Public toilets could close in bid to save £400k
DOZENS of public toilets face closure after a council announced plans to withdraw all funding from next year.
North Somerset Council wants to save the £400,000 it currently spends on the upkeep of its conveniences.
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North Somerset Council's executive member for toilets, Peter Bryant
It has put the future of all 29 public toilets it is responsible for up for review and is inviting parish and town councils to take over their running.
The authority may also start charging people to spend a penny at some sites.
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The review is part of a drive to cut £47 million in spending over a four-year period.
The council plans to withdraw funding by from its next budget, which comes into effect next April.
Officers have already held talks with a number of town and parish councils to investigate whether they could take over responsibility. Those that are not transferred face being shut.
Just under half of the toilets are in the north of the district while the remaining 15 are in the Weston-super-Mare and Worle areas.
Most open between 8am and 8pm, although some are open 24 hours a day and some close during the winter. They are cleaned at least once a day and busier sites have attendants.
Charges could be introduced in tourist resorts such as Weston and Clevedon.
The council has already closed seven public toilets in Banwell, Backwell, Clevedon, Portishead, Uphill and Weston in recent years.
It has no statutory duty to provide public conveniences.
A decision on which toilets will stay open and which ones will close is due to be made by September.
North Somerset Council's executive member for toilets, Peter Bryant, said: "It is very likely that some of the public toilets will close. We have to make huge cuts to our budgets over the next few years and currently it costs us around £400,000 each year to run and maintain public conveniences.
"We have been talking to our town and parish councils about taking over responsibility for public conveniences and hope we can come to some arrangement to keep them running. We are also talking to local businesses to encourage them to be more flexible about opening up their toilets to the public.
"Another possibility is charging people to use public conveniences like they do in London, as we understand there is a need for toilet facilities in tourist resorts such as Clevedon and Weston. If a scheme such as this was adopted it would not be profit making, but to cover the costs of running and maintaining the toilets."
Comments
by emily1111
Sunday, June 24 2012, 8:53PM
“Its ok if your female, but the male toilets,well you have to get past the homosexuals before its ok to pee”
by DennisB2012
Friday, June 22 2012, 9:27AM
“PUBLIC conveniences should be a PUBLIC service.
The pity is that, I believe, national legislation does not require councils to provide public conveniences - free or otherwise.
Perhaps Westminster should reconsider this and define rules about what numbers should be provided. If it became a form of central government legislation, then local councils should be given financial support to help provide the service.”
by Sandstorm10
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:14PM
“Can someone give me three good reasons why ANY tourists should go to Weston-Super-Mare. No parking, the Scenic Pier has no observation tower, the "family beach" at the Marine Lake is 90% mud. There is no decent swimming pool, and increasing numbers of shops are empty. Now no decent loos.
Will the last tourist to leave please turn the lights out - whoops - North Somerset Council already have!”
by taxpayerbris
Thursday, June 21 2012, 7:34PM
“Executive member for toilets, fantastic.”
by groovygems
Thursday, June 21 2012, 6:36PM
“mr bryant looks rather flushed to me !!”
by corncups
Thursday, June 21 2012, 9:11AM
“...but he looks like such a kind spirited and generous man.”
by Adair
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 10:34PM
“Has anyone used the ones on the city centre? I have never been in just walking past and I can smell the stench.”
by Tody123
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 10:13PM
“Only been to the Loo at Portishead by the lake, and the one opposite the City ground and they were both immaculately clean, and large inside.
I would take them any time over some cramped filth pit in a bookmakers”
by Adair
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 9:54PM
“Also pubs and bookies.”
by Adair
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 9:54PM
“There is a KFC, Burger King or McDonalds near you. ;)”