Archdeacon Hawkins with Yvonne Klemperer and Sheila Forster

SUPPORT THE CNJ: CLICK ABOVE TO ADD YOUR DONATION TO OUR BIRTHDAY APPEAL

CEMETERY walkers are rejoicing after the council finally agreed to fund a new public toilet – a success at the end of a 10-year campaign.

Camden Council has been under pressure to reopen facilities in Hampstead Cemetery from grave-owners, the Kilburn Older Voices Exchange (KOVE) and the Archdeacon of Hampstead John Hawkins.

They told the New Journal before Christmas how they regularly saw people peeing in the bushes or widowed and pregnant women squatting among the grave stones.

Yvonne Klemperer, who has been campaigning for more than a decade for the toilet in the cemetery, said: “It’s just great news that they are moving forward with that. It’s been nine or 10 years and it’s ridiculous that it’s taken so long.

“This is not just about toilets. It’s about behaviour and the bad manners of society of the day. Who in their right mind would think this has been OK?

“People need to be able to go out and go about their day and not be worried about if they can go to the toilet or not, or whether they can wash their hands. We need healthy attitudes in life. “I don’t want to sound sexist, but I think sometimes a lot of these managerial positions are run by men. They don’t understand a woman’s position. If she says they are elderly and in need, or have a bad period or whatever.”

Ms Klemperer met with Sheila Forster, from KOVE, and Archdeacon Hawkins at the lodge back in November.

Rev Hawkins had told the New Journal he supported the campaign “on the grounds of decency and compassion”, adding: “For a woman, it’s just not right to have to get undressed in public. For a man, you run the risk of being done for indecent exposure.”

There used to be public toilets in the cemetery but they were shut down around 15 years ago. The lodge has been rented out to the Hampstead School of Art and the toilet in the building has not been routinely open to the public.

The council has said it could not afford to build a toilet in the cemetery for over a decade – but Cllr Adam Harrison, the council’s environment chief, said: “I am pleased to confirm that we will now proceed with £100,000 of investment to create an accessible toilet at the cemetery.

“This follows on from the funding we secured to build five new Changing Places toilets, which are fully disabled-accessible, across Camden, including at Kilburn Library.”

The toilet will be an annexe to the church keeper’s lodge close to the main entrance in Fortune Green Road.

SEE ALSO CNJ’S BIRTHDAY – SUPPORT CAMPAIGNING JOURNALISM