A practical plan setting out how modern, reliable and cost‑effective public toilet facilities could be delivered across North Yorkshire is set to be presented to councillors, with the aim of ensuring good‑quality provision for the future.
On 21 April, members of our executive will be asked to consider the findings of a cross-party working group which has investigated how the service can be run.
We do not have to provide public toilet facilities but believe they play a vital role in supporting residents, visitors and businesses, particularly in rural and tourist areas.
Charging for their use is also widely accepted and commonly used across England and Wales, with many local authorities introducing modest fees to help cover cleaning, maintenance and running costs.
The network in North Yorkshire is the largest in the UK, with 93 amenities across the county.
Currently, 65 are free to use with 90 per cent of the service’s income coming from sites where fees have remained unchanged for almost two decades.
Members will be told that a lack of investment prior to local government reorganisation in 2023 meant we had inherited a patchwork of facilities, a number of which were in poor condition and no longer fit for purpose.
Key aspects of the report to be presented to members next Tuesday (21 April) include:
- Committing funds to upgrade and modernise sites so they are in good or excellent condition by 2030.
- Continue and expand Changing Places provision for people with profound disabilities, with help from external funding.
- The setting of a consistent entry fee of either 40p or 50p per user across the county where appropriate.
- Identifying opportunities for financial support and seeking external funding to enhance and sustain the service.
- Exploring alternative funding streams, including honesty boxes, app-based donations, advertising, sponsorship, and community partnerships.
Executive member for managing our environment, Cllr Richard Foster, whose responsibilities include public toilets, said: “We have inherited a mixed and often ageing estate of public toilets, a number of which have fallen into poor condition after years of under‑investment.
“A major improvement programme is required that would commit us to bringing these essential facilities up to a consistently high standard across the county.
“If agreed, once refurbished, we will seek to introduce charges to ensure they can be properly maintained, kept clean and remain open for residents and visitors long into the future.”
Paying tribute to the work of the working group on public conveniences, Cllr Foster said: “It’s a testament to the shared dedication across all political groups that, on an issue as sensitive as public toilet provision, members have come together with a common purpose.
“Improving these essential facilities is about access and support for every community in North Yorkshire. I’m grateful for the collaboration that’s allowed us to make real progress on something that truly matters to local people.”
Elected member for the Settle and Penyghent division, Cllr David Staveley, who is the chair of the working group on public conveniences, said: “Our priority is to make sure our public toilets are reliable, good quality and financially sustainable.
“People want modern facilities and a service they can depend on. The recommendations allow us to deliver the right facilities, in the right way, and within available funding.
“The group accepted that some poorly used or rundown sites may need to be disposed of but says the process should be open and involve local communities.
“We know how important public toilets are for residents, visitors and businesses. These proposals set out a sensible, long‑term plan to protect and improve the service, so it remains fit for the future.”
See the report to the executive member for environment or downloaded as a PDF.