A dad is livid after a portable loo for bus drivers was plonked outside his house, which he fears will make it impossible to sell. Brett Kemp, 52, was “beyond shocked” when he arrived at his home in Purley, south London, in late July and found a toilet for Transport for London (TfL) bus drivers had been set up in front of it.
He claimed that neither he nor his neighbours were warned or consulted about the loo, which he says “stinks” and “looks truly awful”. The situation has left Mr Kemp “unbelievably stressed” as he needs to sell the property because he can no longer afford the £1,800 monthly mortgage payments.
However, since the toilet was installed, he’s only had two viewings, leading him to believe his house has become “unsellable”. The father-of-two, who runs an oven cleaning business, said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I was beyond shocked when I saw it.”
“TfL put the toilet there without any consultation. There was no communication with me – or the neighbours. I think they only consulted with the school opposite.”
(Image: No credit)
“I think what they’ve done is disgraceful. None of them would like it if this was their house – but because it’s not them – they’ve just washed their hands of it.”
“I wish they could understand that this is affecting someone’s life. It’s like living a nightmare.”
“I am unbelievably stressed by it all because I need to sell the property. I can’t afford to keep paying a mortgage amid these high interest rates if no one is living there.”
“But I’ve only had two viewings because obviously no one wants a toilet outside their home. It obviously looks truly awful – and it stinks whenever someone opens the door.”
“Who wants a house with that? I wouldn’t. I’m going to have to see a doctor because I am so stressed about all of this.”
Mr Kemp, a father of two teenage boys, understood the need for a loo for TfL bus drivers but questioned the local government organisation’s approach.
He stated: “It’s the end of a bus route so I completely understand the need for a toilet. But there are so many things TfL could have done.”
“They could have placed it at the other end of the turning point, near the woodland. They could have put a wooden shed or casing around it so it doesn’t look so out of place.”
“Or at least they could have turned the toilet around so the door doesn’t open directly by my front door.”
(Image: No credit)
Since media first reached out to Mr Kemp, TfL has flipped the toilet around – meaning the toilet door no longer faces towards his property.
He lodged an official complaint about the situation on August 14 and was promised “a personalised response” in 10 days.
However, more than a month on, the aggrieved party alleges: “No one is replying to me. It’s a mess.”
He also expressed his frustration by saying, “I really feel like they’re saying to me, ‘We wouldn’t have it outside our home. But you can have it outside your home.'”.
Adding to his grievances, he lamented, “I have lost all hope that they are going to help me.”
But in response, a TfL spokesperson stated, “It’s really important that bus drivers are able to access toilet facilities while working and these play a vital role in enabling everyone to travel safely.”
The spokesperson further explained, “We are always mindful of local residents when we install these facilities and choose locations near bus stops that are most appropriate, taking into account the need for access to pavements to be maintained.”
The Daily Star has contacted TfL for further comment on the matter.