Print Comments (29) Email

Shopping centre installs 'squat toilets'

Reporter: Dave Parton
Date online: 15 July 2010

Special squatting toilets have been installed in the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre alongside the traditional western style toilets as part of a refurbishment.

The installation comes after the shopping centre's bosses went on a cultural awareness course led by Ghulham Rasul Shazhad OBE.

The course focussed on understanding different cultural needs and community cohesion and also included a tour round Rochdale’s Central Mosque to view the facilities there.

Mr Shazhad said: “The decision was made after the course I ran. In my opinion this is a positive move.

“As a part of this community I feel good service is providing something for all cultural needs.

“The area around the shopping centre is home to a range of different cultures including Bangladeshi, Pakistani and many more that all have different needs.

“If you are disabled you need a disabled toilet, if you don’t speak English you need a translator and if you are of a different culture you need different needs.

“The toilets are open to anyone, it’s not exclusive and anyone can use them.”

Two of the 14 toilets have been converted to nile pans, one for men and one for women.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

Comments

Perhaps they should also install a sand pit and shovel just in case any Tuaregs pop in.

“If you are disabled you need a disabled toilet, if you don’t speak English you need a translator and if you are of a different culture you need different needs.”
If you are disabled you can’t use “normal toilet facilities”. Many other groups need an interpreter but you can still use normal toilet facilities. If we keep altering everything that is British to suit other ethnic backgrounds we will never have integration, but an erosion of our own cultural ways and beliefs.

I do not want to cause any offence to any section of society, however, whoever decided to introduce squat toilets in this day and age are turning the evolution clock hundreds of years backkwards. These squat toilets must be detrimental to our health. We are going back to the days of long drop toilets and tipplers, which disappeared in the late 40s in Rochdale. This is a total disgrace and an insult to the human race.

But really, who in the right mind would want to put any area of the body in contact with an area that had contact, even if it is covered in tissue?

Thanks to the stupidity of this country's immigration policy, Labour and our local worthies have turned Rochdale in to little more than a "multicultural" midden!

Having visited several Asian homes in my trade I have never seen these type of toilets in Asian Homes. Obviously they do not feel that strongly about them or they would pay out of their own pockets to have them installed at home.
Sounds like a waste of money in what are hard times!

This is now one too far, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Rochdale is rapidly going down the pan.

I have had the displeasure of having to use these toilets many, many years ago in France and they are disgusting. They are completely unhygenic - you never know what state they will be in and what you may step in! The toilets in the Exchange tend to have an unpleasant stench as you walk past - imagine what this will now be like! Not very good for the market traders business I wouldn't have thought. This money could have been better spent on trying to encourage shoppers to come to the town.

I too have worked in several hundreds of 'ethnic minority' homes and never yet have I seen a squat toilet. For goodness sake Rochdale, wake up to yourself. What next, realising that lots of people sleep rough on the streets, so make everybody sleep in cardboard boxes, so as not to upset them?

Thanks to shopping centre bosses and Ghulam. You`ve given me the biggest laugh I`ve had for ages.

Squat on Rochdale; it's a cesspit anyway!

I have used toilets like this in the past and agree that they're totally unecessary and in no way are a part of the culture or religion. As a Muslim I knew straight away the backlash this would cause. Even my family and friends were shocked by the introduction of these facilities and are wondering the same as everyone else - WHY? Attention needs to be paid to the fact that Rochdale town centre is becoming more and more derelict rather than doing ridiculous things like this.

As an Asian person when I visit Pakistan I will not stay at a place if it has these squat toilets. They are unhygienic, inconvenient and a complete waste of money to put them in a shopping precinct. I agree with Tiger27, there are far more pressing issues in Rochdale to address than squat toilets.

Tiger27, I am pleased that someone who appears to have first-hand knowledge about what is required within the Muslim culture or religion has posted. You are correct, it has caused a backlash, and I appreciate your comments.

This is the final straw! I have travelled throughout India and the Far East and there is no doubt in my mind that squat toilets are an unhygenic and retrograde step!
When in Rome do as the Romans do - when in the UK do what the hell you want!
Also - people who don't speak English should learn English or seek residency elsewhere
And finally, as a powerless resident of Rochdale, I and my family will protest in the only way we can - we will never shop in Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre again

A cultural awareness course led by Ghulham Rasul Shazhad. Strangely he only seems to want to make people ‘aware’ of one culture; HIS!

Is this a marketing ploy designed to attract new shoppers from niles around?!
And well done RO for welcoming the views of all sectors of Rochdale's community on this article and not patronising your readers by withdrawing the comment facility, as have at least one other media group.

You just part your cheeks and squeeze; innit?

Talking to my Muslim friends this evening, I'm informed there's absolutely no requirement within Islam or culturally for these types of toilets. In fact, it is quite opposite, people in the Indian sub-continent install more of the standard toilets than these squat toilets simply for hygiene reasons. Where Ghulam Shazad got this idea from is beyond me. Perhaps Mr Shazad should take a trip to Pakistan and get some first-hand cultural training before unleashing his backward ideas upon us!

I hope he craps on his own squat, otherwise he will have to pay 20p for the privilege to squat on taxpayers heads.

Born and bred Dale lad. My Muslim friends in town say what the ****!
Mr Shazad, please tell me how many people in Rochdale have this type of facilities in their own home. Do you have one in yours, Mr Shazad?
Free parking all Saturday, WOW! Cost you 20p for a pee!
Need new shops not crap like that!

I wonder why Ghulham Rasul Shazhad does not pay us the ultimate in disrespect-and leave?!

In an effort to ensure that we are all correctly indoctrinated with the purest of multicultuarl thoughts, I am told that these khazis will now be incuded by Rochdale Tourist Information Centre in their "Rochdale Blue Badge Walks" leaflet!

"The installation comes after the shopping centre's bosses went on a cultural awareness course led by Ghulham Rasul Shazhad OBE".
Bet the employees at this place are having are right laugh at their "bosses"!

This article portrays Rochdale for what it is.

Totally ridiculous decision! Idiotic, small minded cretins in charge of the Exchange Shopping Centre.
If anybody actually listens to Ghulam he does not advocate this sort of divisive action and he is the most open minded person when it comes to integration. This is all about simpletons at the Exchange. Muppets!

Mr Shazad is one big joke!
Can we please have him doing a special opening of the squat toilets and being the first to squat publicly!

Oh my God! What the hell is this place coming to? Don't we have more serious needs to spend money on? This is a backwards move for Rochdale and whoever agreed this wants sacking. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Incredible. Nobody has actually said they wanted these unhygienic fitments installed, but they are installed anyway to reflect 'cultural diversity'. I would love to know how many Asian residents in Rochdale have these things installed in their own homes? Does Mr Shahzad have one of these in his house? If not, why is it such a good idea to impose these facilities on others who are less 'enthusiastic' about them. What next?