Shopping centre toilets in Worksop outed as gay sex and drugs den

Furious elderly shoppers have been left scampering to find the nearest restrooms after customer toilets at the Priory Centre were closed amidst speculation they had become a ‘sex hotspot’ for gay men.
The Priory Centre toilets shut down last monthThe Priory Centre toilets shut down last month
The Priory Centre toilets shut down last month

A trusted sourced told the Guardian that the toilets, located in the shopping centre’s car park, were also being used as a place for addicts to inject heroin before they were shut down last month.

Research carried out by this newspaper revealed that the toilets were listed on the internet as a popular location for gay men to meet and engage in sexual activity.

Due to the closure, customers are now being advised to use council-operated toilets on Bridge Street, but this is proving a difficulty for some shoppers- particularly those who are elderly or disabled.

Roger Vernon, from Worksop, is one of those shoppers.

He said that he had been deterred from visiting the shopping centre again due to the closure of the toilets.

He added: “There are those amongst us who take diuretics, with a consequent need for easily accessible toilet facilities which when needed are needed urgently.”

“Many folk are not in a position to make the journey to Bridge Street quickly and easily.”

The manager of the Priory Centre, David Aunins, neither confirmed nor denied that the toilets were being used for sex and by drug addicts, but said: “‘We were forced to make this decision following a continued series of events that saw the toilets being misused and antisocial behaviour regularly occurring. “

“This had the potential to affect the safety of our shoppers.”

“We are obviously not willing to put our shoppers at risk, and do everything in our power to make a visit to the Priory an enjoyable one, so have put this measure into place to protect them.’

Liz Prime, head of Neighbourhoods at Bassetlaw District Council, reminded customers that the council toilets on Bridge Street were available for visitors to use and added:“It is unfortunate that the Priory Centre feel they have been left with no other option but to close their toilets despite the council initially providing support and guidance from our Community Safety Team.”

Josie Potts, ward councillor for Worksop town centre east said: “People need to have a little more respect. Children will have used these toilets.”

“I hope the situation is resolved as it’s unfair for people to be left stranded due to the selfish actions of others.”

MP for Bassetlaw John Mann said that steps should be put in place to deter drug users so that the toilets could be re-opened to Priory Centre customers.

He said: “If there is an issue with heroin addicts using the toilets that can easily be solved using preventative lighting which has been successful in many other locations.”

“Appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that shoppers can use convenient toilets without any concerns at all.”

The public toilets at the Priory Centre are not the first in Worksop that have had to be closed due to anti-social behaviour.

In 2013, the council-owned public toilets in the Victoria Square car park, Gateford Road, were shut down due to reports of binge drinking, drug taking and sexual activity.

The council said it had taken the decision to close the toilets on Gateford Road following ‘mindless behaviour of an inconsiderate minority’.

People working in neighbouring business have welcomed the closure, with one hailing it as a ‘blessing’ as they felt their staff and customers were being put at risk.

Related topics: