A dad has said he can’t sell his home after a portable toilet for bus drivers was placed outside his property by Transport for London.
Brett Kemp, 52, was ‘beyond shocked’ when he found toilet for TfL bus drivers had been erected in front of his home in Purley, south London.
He said neither he nor the neighbours were warned or consulted about the toilet – which he claims ‘stinks’ and ‘looks truly awful’.
Mr Kemp has been left ‘unbelievably stressed’ by the situation as he wants to sell the property because he can no longer afford the £1,800 monthly mortgage payments.
But since the toilet was placed there he has only had two viewings – leading him to believe the house has been rendered ‘unsellable’.
Dad-of-two Mr Kemp, who has 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.
‘I think it’s disgraceful what they’ve done. 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,’ he said.
He added: ‘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, who has two teenage sons, said he ‘understands’ the need for a toilet for TfL bus drivers – but questions the way the local government organisation has gone about things.
He said: ‘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.’
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Since Mr Kemp spoke out about the loo, TfL have flipped the toilet around – meaning the toilet door no longer faces towards his property.
But Mr Kemp said he ‘can’t get over’ TfL’s alleged lack of communication with him.
He filed an official complaint about the situation on August 14 and was promised ‘a personalised response’ in 10 days.
However, more than a month on, he has received nothing, he claims.
He said: ‘No one is replying to me. It’s a mess. 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.’ I have lost all hope that they are going to help me.’
A TfL spokesperson said: ‘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.
‘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.’
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