As well as the library consultation, the future of Island public toilets also goes into public consultation today.
An internal Isle of Wight council (IWC) document leaked to VB, sets out exactly how each of the toilets scored in a test as to whether they stay open or closed.
Under proposals voted through by the Isle of Wight Cabinet last month, 32 of the 67 public conveniences on the Island are set for closure by the end of March 2011.
That is, unless town and parish councils, community groups or businesses decide to take responsibility for the ‘surplus’ public toilets that serve Islanders and visitors alike.
The decision has been slammed by opposition councillors and residents on the Isle of Wight, which we all know depends heavily on tourism for its economy.
How did council decide which toilets are surplus to requirement?
Despite what some may think, the decision wasn’t made by sticking a finger on a map to choose which toilets to keep open.
What has changed between previous years and this year are the criteria that they’ve used to make their judgements. It’s a drastic change too.
Strangely the financial costs of previous years – water usage; frequency of cleaning; or cost of vandalism – have gone, to be replaced with weightings of if they are in a – Principal Town; Principal Beach; or Principal Park.
(Side note: The selection of a Principle Beach is on if they have Blue Flag status – something none of them will have if the proposed cuts of lifeguards go ahead).
Results of score sheet
The first spreadsheet covers the latest 2010 analysis. It’s missing some of the more interesting details in the one below, but gives an overview of what data was gathered. Tabs at the bottom of the screen take you to other sheets.
If the window is too small for you, have a look at the full-sized version (will open in a new window).
Details from 2008 & 2009
On the score sheet below covering the previous years 2008 & 2009, the two columns that are screaming out notable by their absence, are “Visitor numbers” and “Alternative use value (est)”.
One number is vital for people who earn their living from tourism in the area close to the public toilet, because it would show how many use it.
The other is vital, we could assume, in working out if the toilets should be closed, even if other indicators show that it shouldn’t.
Details are outlined below, alternatively, you can view the spreadsheet in a full Web page (opens in a new tab). Note the links at the top of the spreadsheet that take you to the various tabs.
Consultation
The consultation runs until the end of January after which the IWC will “take a further decision to confirm the retained public conveniences and to set out the process for securing their management” and “to confirm the surplus public conveniences and to set out the process for their disposal”.
More information about the consultation, can be found in the report on the proposal.
Image: AlanCleaver _2000 under CC BY 2.0
