DENBIGHSHIRE County Council is currently carrying out a needs assessment for the public conveniences in the county.

This will identify the number of public conveniences needed in Denbighshire and will help the Council to develop a suitable “public toilet strategy”.

To develop this strategy, a public consultation is being undertaken and residents, business owners and visitors are encouraged to take part and have their say.

If you would like to take part in the consultation, go to www.denbighshire.gov.uk/consultations.

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Rhyl and Prestatyn need many more public toilets, council study finds

Earlier this month, the Journal reported that a council study revealed a significant shortfall of public toilets in numerous towns, particularly Prestatyn and Rhyl.

While the net budget for public toilets across the county is £270,000, the council often overspends in this area, with its “true cost” being roughly £322,000 per year.

As part of its efforts to cut costs, it has been assumed that a minimum of £200,000 will be removed from the council’s public toilets budget.

A council spokesperson said: “Like many local authorities, Denbighshire County Council is facing significant challenges to set a balanced budget.

“The council has had to deliver £10.4million of savings as part of the 2024-25 budget, and the proposal to review the public convenience provision in the county is one of the savings proposals identified.

“Whilst there is no legal requirement for the council itself to provide public conveniences, the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 requires the local authority to evidence that it has reviewed the needs of the local population and to produce a strategy that shows how it will try to meet these needs.”

Public toilets in Denbighshire either cost 40p per entry or are free of charge.

Cllr Barry Mellor, the council’s lead member for environment and transport, said: “We understand that public conveniences are highly valued assets by certain parts of the community.

“However, the fact remains that the provision of public conveniences is not a statutory duty, and we do not now have a big enough budget to enable us to keep delivering services in the same way that we have always delivered them in the past.

“In areas where the provision of public conveniences is considered essential, we hope to work with city, town and community councils to look at alternative arrangements.

“No decision has been made about closing any public conveniences at this stage, and any decisions on this will be made by our cabinet, following a further report to our communities scrutiny committee."