Manchester is predicted to be one of the first cities in the UK to lose all its public toilets, according to a new study.
Apparently, data shows the city will have nowhere to wee for free by the time 2059 rolls around.
For some Mancs, it’s probably not a thought that crosses your mind very often, but for those with weaker bladders, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed public toilets are much thinner on the ground and a lot harder to come by these days – especially here in Manchester.
And it turns out there’s good reason for that, as our city has ranked among the top 10 UK cities that are most-likely to lose their loos within the next couple of decades.
Manchester is predicted to be one of the first UK cities to lose all its public toilets / Credit: Supplied
According to a new study carried out by bathroom specialists Victorian Plumbing, the number of public toilets in the UK has dropped from 6,087 in 2000, to just 3,990 over the last 10 years, and if it continues at this rate, the current trajectory is predicting a future where the country’s streets lack free lavatories altogether.
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Experts say this would lead to a public health crisis that “disproportionately affects people with disabilities or ill health”, as well as the elderly, women, outdoor workers, and the homeless too.
The company’s research has discovered that Manchester is one of the worst-affected regions in the UK when it comes to the rapid decline in public toilets – with only seven estimated in the area currently, and a loss of 2.1% per year.
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Top 10 UK cities most likely to lose their public toilets
Newcastle
Birmingham
Plymouth
Manchester
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Preston
Salford
Liverpool
Lancaster
Manchester takes the fourth spot on the list, with our fellow Greater Manchester neighbours Salford also claiming eighth place, and the rest of the top 10 list overwhelmingly featuring other northern cities like Preston, Lancaster, and Liverpool.
“It may seem like a trivial thing to worry about, but the dwindling number of public toilets speaks to a broader issue of societal neglect,” comments Brenna Ryan, from Victorian Plumbing.
Data shows the city will have nowhere to wee for free by the time 2059 rolls around / Credit: Supplied
Urging the UK Government to “take action”, Brenna added: “Every year, the number of public toilets decrease, and with it, so does our promise of a basic human right – the right to sanitation. It’s not just about answering nature’s call, but about upholding the dignity of everyone, irrespective of age, gender, or social status.”
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Victorian Plumbing has now launched a petition calling on local authorities to provide public toilets by law – with more than 2,000 people and counting having put their names to it.
“It’s high time we voice our concerns, rally behind the need for accessible public toilets, and urge our Government to understand that this isn’t just about toilets, but about the dignity, health, and wellbeing of everyone,” Brenna concluded.
A new study has revealed the exact age that ‘hangovers from hell’ begin
Clementine Hall
Still nursing a Christmas hangover? There might be a reason for that.
That’s because a new study has officially revealed the exact age that “hangovers from hell” start and begin to ruin our lives.
Picture this, you’re a 20-something-year-old who’s woken up after a night of heavy drinking only to feel a faint headache and a craving for greasy food. One fry up and one lucozade later, you’re feeling right as rain by 3pm and ready to go again.
Fast forward a few years and a glass of red wine or two will knock you out for days as you reach for the paracetamol and hide away from any bright light whilst you swear to never ever drink again (until the next weekend).
Gone are the days where you could stay out all night and only feel a slight hangover the next morning.
But at what age does this drastic decline take place? When does our ability to handle alcohol slip through our sticky, tequila covered fingers? Well, a new study carried out by greeting-card company Thortful has found that the age of 34 is where it all starts to go downhill.
A new study has revealed the exact age that ‘hangovers from hell’ start / Credit: Kraken Images (via Unsplash)
A survey of 2,000 people aged from 18 to 65 found this to be the age where hangovers really start to sting and you begin to question whether that last gin and tonic was really worth it, and it doesn’t just stop there, as age 35 was found to be the year when hangovers last for two days which is the ultimate punishment.
We all know there’s nothing worse than rocking up to work on a Monday morning still feel hazy eyed and more dehydrated than a cactus.
Sadly, it’s not until age 37 when we finally learn from our mistakes (supposedly) and start to recognise our limits – with the consensus being that people feel ‘too old’ to go out at age 38, and subsequently start to feel more drunk after just two drinks at age 39.
At least it’ll be a cheap night out.
Long gone are the days when you would wake up feeling fresh as a daisy / Credit: Kinga Cichewicz (via Unsplash)
The science behind it is as follows – Dr. Deborah Lee of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, said little research has been conducted on the severity of hangovers with regards to ageing, but explained they worsen due to ‘the breakdown of alcohol and the persisting presence of its toxic metabolite – acetaldehyde – in the body’, the Metro reports.
“Hangovers are likely to worsen with age because the activity of the key enzymes involved in alcohol breakdown becomes less efficient with age,” Dr Lee explained.
“Also, older people have less muscle and more fat, plus the distribution of water within the body alters as we age.
“The end result is higher levels of blood alcohol which take longer to metabolise.”
So, if you’re still in your 20s and deliberating whether or not to have that extra shot of tequila then use this information to your advantage and go for it, as sooner or later that extra sip might have you bed bound and out of action for a few days, so enjoy it whilst you can.
More than 12 million Brits think Yorkshire puddings belong with your Christmas dinner
Emily Sergeant
More than 12 million Brits would argue that your Christmas dinner needs a side of Yorkshire puddings, a shocking survey has revealed.
The survey in question carried out by retailer Next – which polled a total of 2,000 Brits about their Christmas dining and tableware habits – has uncovered that millions of people stray off the beaten track when it comes to, what we can all agree is, one of the biggest and heartiest meals of the year.
It turns out, Brits like a lot of unusual items on our Christmas dinner plate.
Some of the most obscure finds the survey is that two million people admitted to eating onion rings alongside their turkey and sprouts, and a further 5% (3.4 million) Brits like tucking into a bit of seafood on Christmas Day.
A surprising 4% (2.7 million) of people admitted that they like to add ketchup to their Christmas dinner plate – with mac and cheese, chips, and sweetcorn also making the top 10 list.
More than 12 million Brits think Yorkshire puddings belong with your Christmas dinner / Credit: Rumman Amin (via Unsplash)
If all of that wasn’t mad enough as it is, one of the most shocking stats from the survey is probably the fact that a whopping 1.4 million respondents even said that they wouldn’t consider it a Christmas dinner without the addition of baked beans.
But when it comes to Christmas dinner, there’s probably one debate that’s bigger than them all, and is still yet to be decided – do Yorkshire puddings belong on your Christmas dinner plate or not?
Well, 12.7 million Brits believe that they do, and we reckon a good chunk of that number is us northerners.
The UK’s top 10 non-traditional Christmas food items
Yorkshire Puddings (19% – 12.7 million)
Bread sauce (5% – 3.4 million)
Seafood (5% – 3.4 million)
Ketchup (4% – 2.7 million)
Mac and cheese (3% – 2 million)
Onion rings (3% – 2 million)
Chips (2% – 1.2 million)
Bread (2% – 1.2 million)
Sweetcorn (2% – 1.2 million)
Beans (2% – 1.2 million)
A new survey has revealed has uncovered that millions of people stray off the beaten track for Christmas dinner / Credit: Lisa Baker (via Unsplash)
While previous research has shown that the most common items on a British Christmas dinner are roast potatoes and gravy, these latest stats reveal there are some people out there who just like to do things a little differently.
But no matter how you like to eat it, a delicious Christmas dinner is always going to be something to celebrate, right?
Emily Sergeant -
22nd November 2023 
