THE MS for Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies, has written to Denbighshire County Council and Welsh Government expressing his concerns about the local authority’s reconsideration of its Local Toilet Strategy.

A proposal put forward in March would include the transfer in ownership of public toilets, and has given rise to significant resident apprehension of widescale public toilet closures across the county.

As part of its Local Toilet Strategy review, the council also reviewed its provision of public conveniences across the county, which revealed a significant shortfall in numerous towns.

The council is currently consulting on how it approaches and manages public toilet provision in Denbighshire.

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The consultation, available on the council’s website, has a closing deadline of September 15. 

One of the proposals considered would transfer responsibility for public toilets to town and community councils, saving approximately £200,000, but with no guarantee of town councils taking up the offer.

In his letter to the council, Mr Davies has outlined the impact that toilet closures would have on the most vulnerable people in the county and suggests other avenues to mitigate the costs of operating public toilets.

He has also written to Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary for local government, Jane Bryant, calling for more oversight and for national guidance to local authorities that would safeguard the provision of public conveniences.

Mr Davies said: “I share the anxiety that many residents have at the prospect of widespread public toilet closures which would affect everyone in Denbighshire, not least the elderly and those living with disabilities.

“There are many avenues that Denbighshire County Council can explore to ensure continued access to public conveniences - which are an essential service - beyond penny-pinching proposals.

“I have written to both the council and Welsh Government to express my concerns over the proposals to sell off public toilets and have called on Welsh Government to make their provision a statutory obligation.

“In the meantime, I’d urge all residents to voice their opinion in the council’s consultation.”

In response, a council spokesperson said: “Like many local authorities, the council is facing significant challenges to set a balanced budget.

“We have 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 us 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.

“As a result, the 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 currently underway and residents, business owners and visitors have been encouraged to take part and have their say.

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

“We are also promoting interest in the Community Toilet Grant Scheme whereby businesses can apply to join the scheme, which allows the pubic to use toilet facilities during their opening hours without any expectation that users will make a purchase or use their services.  

“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 the council’s Communities Scrutiny Committee."

A Welsh Government spokesperson added: “We recognise the importance of accessible public toilets which can help people lead active lives in their community.

“The Public Health (Wales) Act places a requirement for each local authority in Wales to produce a local toilet strategy for its area, in consultation with residents.”