Members of the Isle of Wight council Executive are poised to ditch plans for a Community Toilet Scheme tonight.
Back in November 2014, the Executive agreed to go out to consultation on the plans to close a number of public toilets and instead rely on local businesses to open their toilet doors to the public. It was hoped the council would achieve savings of £150,000 in 2015/16 with a £300,000 full year effect with the scheme.
According to papers for tonight’s Executive meeting, the council received a total of 46 responses from businesses and 442 responses from members of the public to the proposal.
Unfortunately, only 29 per cent of businesses were interested in taking part in the scheme. 71 per cent said they were not willing to open their toilets to the general public.
How businesses reacted
Some of the arguments against the scheme included:
- Why should we subsidise the Council?
- I used to open my toilets to the general public, it caused nothing but grief.
- The cost of extra rates, cleaning, water etc. would exceed the amount suggested.
- We pay enough already with the high costs of business rates.
- Not the way the general public leave the condition of the toilet.
- I have allowed customers to use my staff toilet and on some occasions the toilet was left in a very disgusting state. Having people just walk off the street to use the toilet would be a nightmare as I wouldn’t be able to monitor it and quite frankly would render me paranoid as to what state they would be left in.
- People taking advantage, using the premises as somewhere to sit with no intention of purchasing meaning no room for actual customers, extra cost on cleaning, water, toilet roll, soaps etc. and more work for staff to keep an eye on.
- We pay enough in taxes and water bills. How dare you even ask businesses – we are struggling enough.
No go for scheme, but alternatives sought
With so few businesses taking part, the overall scheme would not bring the savings the council were looking for. The paper states,
The consultation outcome concluded that given the limited expressions of interest in the CTS, the introduction of an overall scheme will not create the savings required; therefore alternative approaches to meet the savings target will need to be considered.
However, if agreed tonight, the council say they will pursue opportunities with those who have expressed an interest, as well as approaching Town and Parish councils to see whether they’d take over responsibility for public toilets in their areas.
Members have said at past council meetings they would not close public toilets unless there was alternative provision in the area.
Council not obliged to keep toilets open
Many people might be surprised to hear the provision of public conveniences is not a statutory responsibility of the council.
Readers will remember that last time the council planned to close toilets (back in 2009/10) there was public outcry, including from many of the current leading Independent councillors who were then in opposition to the Conservative council.
Given its dire financial position due to cuts in funding from the Conservative government, members will be looking for anywhere they can cut costs.
More detail
Full details including links to additional papers are included in the Paper below. Click on the full screen icon to see larger version.
Community Toilet Scheme Paper G
Image: garethjmsaunders under CC BY 2.0
