Government
Toilet Plans: All Cisterns Go
Local
councils will be encouraged to do more to halt the decline of the great
British public loo and to adopt pioneering new approaches to boost access
to public toilets across the country.
150 years ago public lavatories were seen by councils as key to good public
health - as well as a chance to promote leading edge architecture. They
became a symbol of civic pride as well as the advances of sanitation.
But in recent years there has been a significant fall in both the level
of provision and public satisfaction.
This week's Strategic Guide is Communities and Local Government response
to that. It is the first of its kind - and it is aimed at encouraging
local councils to look at a range of things they can now do to provide
better access and better quality toilets across the country.
'We think that the state of our public toilets should indeed be a mark
of civic and community pride. The Guide will say that being able to use
clean and accessible public loos are important to everyone - but it is
critically important to particular groups such as disabled or older people
and families with young children. And the whole community suffers - not
least because poor quality provision in our towns and city centres contributes
to anti-social behaviour through 'street fouling' and poor hygiene standards.'
Communities Minister Baroness Andrews will encourage councils to consider
a range of innovative ideas and actions to boost the availability, and
quality of, public toilets. This will include:
* The new 'SatLav' schemes. A new mobile text scheme which sends immediate
information on your nearest toilet and opening times. Successfully pioneered
in Westminster, for 25p people can find their nearest public toilet on
their mobile phone by text with more than 40 council run or leased public
conveniences included as well as many high profiles stores.
* Community Toilet Schemes where local shops and businesses open up public
access to their toilets and are paid by the council. Prominent signs on
the street and in the windows of participating businesses encourage people
to use the facilities. Local shops and businesses join voluntarily and
stand to benefit from extra trade. This approach can be cheaper for councils
than more traditional council-run facilities. Richmond Upon Thames' community
toilet scheme now has 70 participating businesses ensuring clean and safe
provision, providing a range of facilities from the early morning to late
at night.
* Councils levering in more money from developers for public toilet provision
through the planning system. Planning gain powers can allow local authorities
to fund new toilet provision. For example, in Brent £700,000 was
secured for new toilet facilities at six sites as part of planning agreements
for the new Wembley stadium.
* Removing an inconsistency in the law which may help councils to raise
additional money to enhance toilet provision. People already pay to use
loos in train stations and local facilities owned by councils but privately
run. Councils will soon be given the discretion to charge for toilets
and urinals that they own and run. This will be their decision and the
guide stresses that councils should consult local people about how to
promote public access to toilets, and if they take a decision to introduce
charging it should be fair and reasonable. Research actually suggests
that many people are happy to pay in return for having access to better
quality provision.
* Planning more strategically to provide more and better loos. Councils
should be using their strategic and spatial plans to ensure a better mix
of provision by adopting a range of approaches to meet needs at different
times of the day, improving poor quality facilities that have become a
magnet for crime and bring down the reputation of parks and neighbourhoods.
The Guide makes clear that public conveniences owned and run by local
councils should remain at the heart of provision. By using existing and
new powers, councils can rethink their whole approach to public toilet
access and ensuring good quality provision. At the same time it will highlight
the potential of freeing up greater access to existing provision in local
shops and businesses through community toilet schemes.
Communities Minister Baroness Andrews said:
'Some people may find the whole idea of a strategic guide on public toilets
funny. But let's remember that there are serious issues too, issues that
make public access to toilets a matter of vital importance to many people.
'For older people, disabled people, and families with young children poor
access to public toilets can make it difficult to leave home, and reduce
their freedoms and sense of dignity.
'For decades, the provision of good municipal facilities was a matter
of considerable civic pride. But for many years we seem to have gone backwards.
We need to reverse this decline.
'There are excellent examples out there of innovative councils finding
ways to increase access to quality toilets without imposing an additional
burden on council tax payers. If others follow their lead and take up
this challenge, we would all be better off.'
Richard Chisnell of The British Toilet Association welcomed the publication.
'We are very grateful to the Government for taking up the important issue
of public toilet provision. First impressions can be gained in the toilets
on arrival and it is these that get taken home by visitors. Expanding
and improving the range of toilets available for public use is the right
way forward and we welcome the positive changes that this guidance could
inspire.'
