Closed toilets leave people busting for answers

Frustrated Kelston residents have taken to social media to complain about the closure of public toilets at their local shopping centre.

The toilets at the Kelston Shopping Centre in West Auckland have been shut for approximately six weeks.

Centre property manager Chris Mackenzie said there is signage up directing customers to the McDonald’s toilets outside the mall.

However, shopper Kirsteen Fitzpatrick said she believes walking to McDonald’s is dangerous for children.

Miss Fitzpatrick’s eight-year-old daughter walked across a “busy carpark” by herself to get to the bathrooms whilst her father continued shopping.

The Kelston local said for kids going that “extra mile” is tough as “adults can hold on a bit longer, whereas kids can’t”.

Shopper Ash MacGroucutt said beggars, “scabbers” and “unfriendly people” sit in between the shopping centre and the McDonald’s which makes the walk a “hassle”.

“It’s a pain not having [the toilets] open,” said Mr MacGroucutt.

Jo’elle Morgan said on Facebook she wishes the toilets would “hurry up and open”.

“I hate it because I like to know that I can always go to the toilet if I need to,” said Ms Morgan.

Mr Mackenzie said the toilets are expected to re-open next week. “We’ve put a lot of money into it so we feel it will really revitalise [the centre] and add to the customer experience.”

He also said the toilets haven’t been refurbished since the centre opened in the mid-90s, so “they’ve been long overdue for an upgrade”.