Flintshire businesses encouraged to help increase number of public toilets

Business owners are being encouraged to come forward in a bid to increase the number of public toilets in Flintshire. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

There are currently just four loos operated by Flintshire Council in the area after eight were closed since 2000 in a bid to cut costs. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Some public conveniences were also transferred into the ownership of community groups. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The local authority is preparing to launch a consultation on its Local Toilets Strategy, as required by the Welsh Government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Politicians have suggested that working with businesses to open their toilets to members of the public could be a way of boosting the facilities available. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The idea was put forward by Shotton West councillor Sean Bibby at a meeting of the council’s environment scrutiny committee. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking today, he said: “To what extent have discussions been made with private businesses about providing toilet facilities? ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I know in Shotton we had a lot of issues with toilets in the town centre which were shut due to budget pressures and anti-social behaviour. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“There’s an informal agreement with Wetherspoons and I think in some town centres that would work quite well.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Officers said a previous Welsh Government scheme to encourage more businesses to open their toilets up had failed, despite providing a £500 incentive. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Paul Shotton said he was ‘disappointed’ more businesses were not willing to take part. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The four facilities still run by the council, include two toilets in Mold, one in Holywell and one in Talacre. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Last week Raymond Martin, director of the British Toilet Association, said the authority needed to do more to help people who are caught short. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, Cllr Carolyn Thomas, cabinet member for Streetscene and countryside, warned the new strategy would not necessarily result in an increase in toilet facilities. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

She said: “It’s another strategy we’re having to do on behalf of the Welsh Government and it’s not like there’s additional funding. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We’re having less money and being asked to do more yet again. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“If local members and town and community councils could suggest business owners in their area, then we could write to them.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Councillors voted to back holding a public consultation on the strategy. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They are expected to receive a further report once feedback has been received. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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