Peterborough schoolgirl’s campaign to re-open park toilets gathers momentum as MP joins calls for action

The 14-acre park has a number of facilities available to the public including tennis courts and an outdoor gym, yet no access to toilet facilities.

The recently re-decorated toilets have been closed since last year. Kayla who loves the park so much she held her birthday party there wants the toilets open so families can spend all day there.

A 16 minute walk away from the nearest toilets, residents face an impossible task to plan their visit. Especially for visitors like Kayla’s mum, Tay, who has a stoma bag meaning she requires immediate use of toilet facilities at any time.

Inspired at Brownies, Kayla had to back a cause to earn one of her badges and knew straight away how she wanted to make a difference. Putting pen to paper, Kayla wrote to her local MP Paul Bristow to see if he could help.

Within a week Kayla received a response and was “amazed” at the reply. Kayla said: “I felt shocked as I thought I wouldn’t get a reply back. Because of mum’s stoma it means we need a toilet a lot quicker. We have to go straight home and a lot of the time we don’t come back. We would love to stay all day.”

Thrilled with her daughter’s progress, Tay said: “We’ve had to limit the time we spend there as there are no toilet facilities close by. We would stay longer if there were toilets. We are delighted that it’s shown Kayla if you want something, you can do something about it.”

Mr Bristow said Kayla makes him “proud of Peterborough”. He added: “It’s great that she’s trying to make a difference. She is absolutely right- if more local families are to enjoy Itter Park then we need toilet facilities in the park for them to use. It’s so important that young people get involved in politics and in the community.”

The MP for Peterborough has since raised this with the chief executive of Peterborough City Council, Gillian Beasley, asking for the toilets to be re-opened.