By Debbie Kerr

A COMPLAINT made by a Dundee woman regarding the ‘disgusting’ toilets at the city’s Wellgate Shopping Centre is to be investigated by the centre manager.

Sheila Neill (34), who was shopping in the centre on Friday, December 28, paid the required 20p entrance fee to use the toilets but was appalled by the unhygienic environment she found.

She said, “I paid my 20p which was not a problem and I went into to use the toilet but it was just disgusting.

“I had to try four separate cubicles before I found one that was usable.

“The seats were unclean and covered in what appeared to be urine and one cubicle had a large sanitary bin sitting on top of the seat.

“In the end I had to clean the toilet myself with toilet paper before I could use it, I just thought it was absolutely disgusting.

“The rest of the toilet, like the floors and the sinks, were absolutely immaculate, to be honest the floor was cleaner than the toilet seats.

“I was not alone in thinking this was a disgrace as I heard many other users complaining about the state of the toilets.”

Mrs Neill, of Riddell Terrace, attempted to get a refund from staff but was told she would have to put her objections into writing.

She said, “There was a notice in the toilets not to complain to the duty staff so I went to try to contact the manager directly, where I was advised he was not available and that I had to put the matter in writing.

“All I wanted was my 20p back but the security guard I spoke to told me I had to put my complaint into writing to gain a refund although it would cost more for me to send a 24p letter.

“In this day and age hygiene is very important and if they are going to make you pay, you expect the toilets to be clean—the toilets should be kept up to hygienic standards.

“I would say that if they were not going to improve the cleanliness of the toilets, people should not be expected to pay to use them.”

Wellgate Centre manager John Morton said the nature of the complaint was unusual but he pledged to thoroughly investigate it.

He said, “The day in question was the busiest Friday of business in the year and although I don’t know the exact number of people who used the toilets that day, I would estimate it at around three to four thousand people.

“We’ve only had one complaint out of three or four thousand people but I will certainly look into it, to see if there is any foundation to it and to see if we need to do something about it.

“It is procedure that we ask everyone who has a complaint to put it into writing.

“If the customer would like to contact me or come into the centre, I will reimburse her 20p with a £2 gift certificate to use in the shopping centre.”