40 Public Toilets Could Be Retained Under New Proposals

Papers for next week’s Cabinet meeting (1st March) reveal some alterations to the proposal to close 32 of 67 public toilets on the Isle of Wight.

As VB readers will remember, back in December 2010, the IWC revealed as part of their budget proposals, that 32 public loos were deemed surplus to needs and planned for closure.

Following the public consultation, in which 319 emails were sent to the council along with 133 letters to councillors, five public toilets have been saved from the flush and will, if approved next week by Cabinet members, continue to be funded and managed by the IWC.

The report states that if this option is approved, it will “realise a saving of £90,000 in 2011/12 or a full year effect of £250,000 from 2012/13 onwards”.

Expressions of interest received for 18 toilets
Of the 40 earmarked to remain, the council has received interest from third parties to run six of them and they say if this goes through, it could result in further savings for the council.

Of the 27 surplus conveniences earmarked for closure, 12 expressions of interest have been received from third parties to run them.

Public Convenience Review (1.Mar.11 Cabinet)

List of retained/surplus toilets

Recommended Public Conveniences to be retained and those which are surplus by the Isle of Wight Council

Image: Alexbrn under CC BY 2.0