Anything else that we can squeeze in this year?...
... well, it has been a while since I've done a Transport for London story. Remember I used to work on the tube? Well, here's one, not a million miles away from my place(s) in Southgate.
A penny spent at Oakwood and Cockfosters stations is a penny raised for good causes
London Underground (LU) staff at Cockfosters and Oakwood Tube stations have turned their approach to tackling vandalism into cash for charity.
After years of seeing the public restroom vandalised and defaced on a daily basis, staff decided to introduce special locking system on the doors to the public toilets in which 20p must be inserted to gain access to the loo.
The new system literally means that passengers wanting to spend a penny actually have to spend a penny. The system has led to a reduction in vandalism and allows LU to raise significant amounts of money for charity.
Chris Oduola, Group Station Manager at Arnos Grove said: "This system is very effective in keeping vandals at bay and allows us to raise significant amounts of money for charity. In July 2005 we donated about £4,000 to the London Bombing Fund and then £3,000 in early 2006 to Cancer Research UK.
"This month, as we near Christmas we wanted to support a London children's charity to help disadvantaged children by providing them with a present this Christmas. We are delighted to be donating £1,000 to Capital Radio's Help a London Child".
Now, I've not seen the locks in question, but as they work, and are of relatively low cost (Stagecoach Bluebird use them at Aberdeen, Ballater etc.), then it might be nice to spread them around the network. Won't be good for the larger stations (where the goings on in there was well known), but might help to allow facilities out of town to be opened up - again. It also might help to cure holes in the TfL budget...
A penny spent at Oakwood and Cockfosters stations is a penny raised for good causes
London Underground (LU) staff at Cockfosters and Oakwood Tube stations have turned their approach to tackling vandalism into cash for charity.
After years of seeing the public restroom vandalised and defaced on a daily basis, staff decided to introduce special locking system on the doors to the public toilets in which 20p must be inserted to gain access to the loo.
The new system literally means that passengers wanting to spend a penny actually have to spend a penny. The system has led to a reduction in vandalism and allows LU to raise significant amounts of money for charity.
Chris Oduola, Group Station Manager at Arnos Grove said: "This system is very effective in keeping vandals at bay and allows us to raise significant amounts of money for charity. In July 2005 we donated about £4,000 to the London Bombing Fund and then £3,000 in early 2006 to Cancer Research UK.
"This month, as we near Christmas we wanted to support a London children's charity to help disadvantaged children by providing them with a present this Christmas. We are delighted to be donating £1,000 to Capital Radio's Help a London Child".
Now, I've not seen the locks in question, but as they work, and are of relatively low cost (Stagecoach Bluebird use them at Aberdeen, Ballater etc.), then it might be nice to spread them around the network. Won't be good for the larger stations (where the goings on in there was well known), but might help to allow facilities out of town to be opened up - again. It also might help to cure holes in the TfL budget...
posted by Suzy Scott @ 20:37
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