Labour London Assembly members block free Underground station loos rejecting Green party amendment

Labour London Assembly members have blocked free loos at London Underground stations, rejecting the Green party amendment to invest £20million into new public facilities.

There have been increasing debates regarding free bathrooms on the London Underground following Labour party officials’ rejection of the initiative.

The London Assembly Labour Group have refused the £20million amendment introduced by the Green party which would see new toilet facilities being put in place across Transport for London stations.

According to Green London assembly member Caroline Russell, the proposals could be paid out of TfL cash reserves – which in turn would increase fares.

‘Despite warm words and many years of cross-party support for more loos for London, the Labour group today chose to vote against my amendment.

‘This was a fully costed and feasible plan for new, free toilets at TfL stations, which would mean more accessible toilets for everyone if the Mayor took it up’, she said according to The Telegraph. 

She added that the Labour party are unwilling to act on their word, and as a result they will need to answer to those who will be suffering the consequences of their decision, such as older and disabled people.  

Labour’s decision comes at a time where Mr Khan faces an increasing pressure to manage finances at the transport authority.

The Mayor and Chairman of TfL recently faced bankruptcy and was obligated to ask the government at Westminster for billions of pounds in state cash to keep the company afloat. 

As a result of the aid, TfL now faces the conditional agreement to freeze fares.

Due to the increasing popularity of working from home resulting from the pandemic, demand for public transport in London continues to remain below pre-pandemic levels.

On average, passenger numbers on the Underground are between 60per cent and 80per cent  and bus levels at 80per cent to 90per cent – as a result of this, fare returns are lower and TfL are forced to cut costs.

Former minister Norman Baker from the Campaign for Better Transport told the Telegraph: ‘More public toilets would be welcome on the London Underground though we do understand TfL is not flush with money.’ 

Mr Baker added that it is understandable with the increasing fares, members of the public are already spending a considerable amount to travel on the underground services. 

Transport for London have been contacted for a comment.

• An earlier version of this article repeated claims made in the Telegraph that Sadiq Khan had blocked free access to toilets at London Underground stations. We have been contacted by the Mayor’s office who have asked us to make clear that the decision was made by the Labour group in the London Assembly, not Mr Khan, and that this body scrutinizes but does not work for the Mayor. The article has been amended accordingly.