A LACK of toilet facilities for lorry drivers is "causing a health hazard" according to a Worcester litter picker after human waste was found in bushes.
A petition calling for essential facilities for lorry drivers to put an end to the "health hazard that currently exists due to lack of facilities" was presented to Worcester City Council last night by Jessie Venegas.
It comes after Sarah Murray, Warndon Wombles litter picker and Liberal Democrat, discovered bottles of urine, soiled toilet paper and a cup filled with excrement on Wainwright Road in September 2022.
It is thought that drivers parked up in Warndon Villages were using the bushes as a toilet or to dispose of human waste.
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Sarah Murray said: “We need to do better. Lorry parks are a necessity up and down the country, and the drivers who use them are essential key workers who ensure our needs are met locally. Why aren’t we meeting theirs?
“Businesses can and should be required to offer rest facilities to drivers, including overnight.
"Failing that, proper facilities should be provided that divert drivers away from unsuitable parking with no facilities.”
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Mrs Murray questioned if anyone is considering where lorry drivers are using the bathroom in Worcester.
She said: “The UK needs to be better, but as a growth hub for industry, Worcester should be leading the way. Worcester City Council’s website hails Worcester’s excellent credentials as an excellent location for businesses, with its transport links.
"More businesses will bring more lorries. Is anyone considering where these drivers will take their overnight breaks and, more importantly, where they will dispose of their toilet waste?
“We can and should do better, not just in Worcester, but across the UK. If we want to be leaders in business, we should start by leading the way in the provision of facilities for the many vehicles that will inevitably come this way."
Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary, previously said that the union believes a lack of "decent facilities is one of the major reasons why people are not coming into the industry."
The petition was launched on Wednesday, October 5 and amassed 77 signatures.
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