Ministry mulls fee for using restroom at public parks

The authorities are considering a plan to impose fees on using restrooms at all public parks across the Kingdom by the year 2020, it is revealed. It is believed that the new measure if implemented, would generate hundreds of thousands of Bahraini dinars that would cover for the maintenance of the facilities in the parks.

A source in Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, told Tribune on grounds of anonymity, that the plan will include all public parks and gardens in the Kingdom, and it aims to combat the negligence and misuse of such facilities, and cover the huge budgets annually spent on their maintenance. The source revealed that the Capital General Secretariat spends BD75,000-BD100,000 annually for the maintenance of 60 parks in the Capital Governorate.

The maintenance works include revamping the restrooms, playgrounds and the other facilities in these parks. Paving the road to implement the new plan at all four governorates, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf recently approved a proposal presented by Muharraq Municipal Council to privatise the facilities in public parks and gardens in Muharraq Governorate, and to impose certain fees to benefit the budget of the municipality and compensate the maintenance expenses. Subsequently, Head of the Financial and Legal Committee in Muharraq Municipal Council Ghazi Al Murbati announced that the council had agreed with the government on initially implementing the proposal at four major parks in the governorate and impose fees for the use of restrooms there.

Mr. Al Murbati said the targeted parks include Al Ghous Walkway and Park in Muharraq, Khalifa Bin Salman Park in Hidd, Casino Park in the heart of Muharraq and Arad Corniche Park. Explaining further on the plan, Mr. Al Murbati confirmed that the council agreed with the municipality on demolishing the existing facilities (restrooms) and rebuild modern ones that operate according to electronic systems to better regulate their use, organise the payment of the new fees and provide security services.