The people will pee on the walls will get a surprise
We know, people tend to pee in every secluded corner of the city when they drink a lot. That’s what happens usually in Soho, in Westminster (London) and the City Council decided to contrast the phenomenon by installing ‘pee paint’ on the walls of the area.
The spray-painted walls in London’s renowned nightlife district will have a water-repellent layer that will cause urine and other liquids to bounce back onto anyone who chooses to urinate in public, “leaving them soaked”, according to the council.
In advance of the holiday party season, Westminster City Council is applying pee paint to the worst-affected districts in Soho but five additional places will receive the paint treatment in the next year. The crackdown is the result of a sharp rise in public urinating episodes in central London which cost over £950,000 per year for the authorities to clean up.
Residents have also become aware of the rise, with some residents claiming not to feel safe.
“Wading through streams of wee to get to my front door is not pleasant, no one can argue that this is acceptable wherever you live and people have a responsibility to use the facilities in the bar or club before they leave”, said Lucy, a Soho resident.
The waste management company Veolia, nearby companies, and city inspectors are all cooperating with Westminster City Council to issue written warnings, Community Protection Notices, and Fixed Penalty Notices. According to the council, inspectors have already started fining people who are found urinating in public.
“It is an absolute disgrace that long-suffering residents have to put up with tourists using Soho as their personal toilet”, said Councillor Patrick Lilley.
“If someone did their business outside your front door, I’m sure you’d feel the same. The anti-pee paint, combined with the community protection notices should teach those perpetrators a lesson”.
“There are plenty of public toilets within Westminster that are open late and free of charge that visitors can use instead of relieving themselves in the street”.
“If you get caught in the act, be prepared to face the consequences”.
Updated restroom locations and hours are shown on a map, assisting visitors in using the appropriate facilities. Brixton and Shoreditch are just two of the areas in London where pee paint has been employed.
Public urination is a known problem but sometimes it’s not caused by the rudeness of the people but because of a lack of public toilets, especially during the night, but not this time.
