IT IS that disgusting stench the next morning that tells the story of the night before.

Eastleigh town centre's streets, shop doorways and alleyways have been plagued by those who choose to relieve themselves in public for years.

But a new scheme is now forcing the culprits to clear up mess themselves instead of facing a hefty fine.

A Restorative Justice programme for the town is offering people caught spending a penny the chance to spend a wee bit of their time cleaning the streets to avoid a court case and fine.

It is not thought such a scheme exists anywhere else in the country and the approach has been welcomed by traders.

The Daily Echo can reveal that Eastleigh Borough Council has prosecuted 10 people for this in the last year with fines up to £400.

But under the scheme those responsible can meet with a representative of Eastleigh Business Improvement District (BID), which runs the scheme, who explains what it is like to face the clear up the next day.

They also spend a few hours on the streets.

Seven people, all young men, have taken part since the scheme launched in December, though others, including several women, have declined the offer.

One young man who had taken part said: “I'm ashamed of what I did.

“I hadn't realised how many people are affected.”

Residents in Eastleigh centre gave a mixed reaction to the scheme, with some saying that seeing the problems first hand might make people think twice but others that it was not enough of a deterrent.

They also pointed out that there are no public toilets open late at night in the town centre.

This is not a new problem in Eastleigh and other innovative schemes have been put forward in the past to solve it, such as a wheelie bin urinal.

Hotspots, according to traders, are the alleyways between Market Street and High Street.

Steve Dalley, pictured below, owner of the Eastleigh Sewing Centre in the High Street, said he had faced clearing up urine but also excrement and vomit.

Daily Echo:

Welcoming the Eastleigh Community Safety Partnership scheme, he said: “It does put the town in a bad light.

“People should have a little more respect for themselves and for people's property.

“Any punishment has to point out to the individual the error of their ways.

“You can't pour a bucket of urine over them but they need to understand that they have a duty to themselves and the environment.”

Sait Yildaz, owner of Cosy Cafe on Market Street, added: “They understand what they're doing is wrong, it shows them what they have done.”

Cllr Paul Bicknell, chairman of Eastleigh Local Area Committee, pictured below, said it was a good way to show people the consequences of their action, but said repeat offenders should still go through the courts so this was not seen as an “easy way out”.

Daily Echo:

Teresa Smith manager of Eastleigh BID, which represents the interests of more than 200 businesses and retailers, said presenting the right image of the town centre was important.

She said traders have complained about having to spend time cleaning their doorsteps after a Friday or Saturday night before they can open up.

“I think it's a really good scheme,” she said.

“It's easy to pay a fine but when you have to face someone it has more impact.

“Also they give something back to the town by cleaning it up.”

  • What to do if you get caught short

THERE are limited options if you get caught short in Eastleigh town centre.

The council maintains a public toilet at the bus station in Upper Market Street, but they are only open 8am to 6pm.

With no public toilets left the council has encouraged people to use facilities at the pubs and clubs before they leave.

Eastleigh police and council bosses considered bringing in a revolutionary new 'wheelie bin urinal' in 2010 as they looked to crack down on drinkers relieving themselves in alleyways, streets and outside shops.

The idea would have allowed people to urinate into a funnel that transfers the liquid into a compartment in the base where it is converted into bio-fertiliser, but it never got off the ground.

And later that year council bosses launched a 'Go B4 U Go' poster campaign to remind people to use toilets before the pubs close.

Elsewhere around the county there is a mixed picture.

New Forest District Council said it had 30 public toilets, 20 of which are open 24 hours a day, including three in Lymington.

The other 10 are locked at night including the only ones in Totton and Brockenhurst at 7pm and Hythe at 8pm.

However, in Fareham and Romsey, the latest that public conveniences stay open in the town centre is 6pm.