Flintshire council to launch September consultation on public toilets
Flintshire County Council has announced a public consultation starting this September to explore options for keeping public toilets open in Mold, Holywell, and Talacre.
Following the removal of revenue funding, the council says it is no longer financially sustainable to operate these facilities without local support. Expressions of interest will be sought from the relevant Town and Community Councils for potential transfer of ownership and ongoing management.
Council Leader David Hughes said: “This is not a decision that the Council has taken lightly, and we recognise the importance of these amenities to the local communities and visitors. We are committed to working constructively with partner organisations to explore all available alternatives. I want to reassure the public that, whilst we seek alternative providers to run these facilities, and until we have exhausted all viable options, these amenities will continue to operate.”
Despite the consultation plans, opposition councillors have criticised the council’s decision to remove the £59,000 budget for the toilets in the 2025/26 financial year without prior public consultation or an equality impact assessment.
A special County Council meeting has been called for Wednesday, 7 August, to challenge the closure plans. Flintshire Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Andrew Parkhurst said the closures would disproportionately affect vulnerable residents, including elderly and disabled people, and families with young children.
“We warned the Labour-led Cabinet during the budget-setting that closing public toilets would harm residents,” Cllr Parkhurst said. “Thanks to pressure from the Welsh Liberal Democrats in the Senedd, Flintshire received an extra £1.2m in Welsh Government funding. Using just 5% of that uplift could have kept these toilets open. Labour and their Independent coalition partners chose not to listen – we’ll continue fighting this short-sighted policy.”
Flintshire People’s Voice leader Cllr Sam Swash criticised the council’s priorities, pointing to a 9.5% Council Tax rise alongside cuts to public services.
“They say they can’t afford the £59,000 to keep public toilets open, yet they’ve found £40,000 to create two new Cabinet posts and £20,000 for ‘Welcome to Flintshire’ signs,” he said. “It’s a political choice to cut essential services while hiking Council Tax.”
A petition opposing the closure of Mold Bus Station toilets has gathered hundreds of signatures since launching recently. The petition stresses the facilities’ importance for elderly and disabled passengers, parents with young children, commuters, tourists, and bus station staff.
Mold Town Council has said it has not been contacted by Flintshire County Council regarding any transfer of the toilets and is awaiting further information.
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