Council urged to reconsider public toilet closures

Richard Evans, local democracy reporter

A motion has been tabled requesting plans to close public toilets are put on hold and re-debated.

Conwy Conservative councillors Harry Saville, Jo Nuttall, Thomas Montgomery, Louise Emery, Antony Bertola, Samantha Cotton, and Gareth Jones have signed the motion, which was submitted to Conwy yesterday evening (Monday).

Earlier this month, the cash-strapped council announced it would close 19 of its 40 public conveniences on 4 September 2024.

Other cost-cutting measures involve scaling back toilet opening hours or closing services out of season.

The council has also vowed to make 19 toilets in council buildings available for the public to use.

Consulted

But Conservative councillors argue that, despite earlier assurances, local members were not properly consulted or involved in discussions and weren’t notified until just hours before the closure announcement was made on July 24.

Cllr Harry Saville explained why the motion had been tabled.

“A group of us have submitted a request for a council meeting to discuss the decision to close or curtail the opening hours of a number of public toilets across Conwy,” he said.

“When the council agreed its local toilet strategy last November, it was made clear that there would be consultation with the local councillors for areas affected by closures. The council’s cabinet committee even formally agreed that this should happen, and that decision is shown in their committee minutes.

“Therefore, it came as a real surprise when some councillors received an email notifying them that some toilets would be closed from September without consultation. We understand that some town councils were also waiting for further information from the county council so they could look at contributing towards keeping these toilets open, and they’ve found themselves surprised by the announcement as well.”

“At the meeting we’ll be asking for an explanation and for all the closures to be paused until that explanation has been reviewed. Public toilets are important local amenities and it’s not unreasonable to ask that decisions around their future are taken in a clear and transparent manner.”

Cllr Louise Emery had also signed the notice of motion.

Shocked

“We were really shocked to get an email in our email box showing the list of toilets being closed at the same time the public had that list, because we were assured back in November there would be consultation with the local councillors,” she said.

“And at that stage, I would have been discussing this at length with Llandudno Town Council to see whether we could perhaps sponsor the toilets. The town council also asked for information on which toilets they were going to close and what it would cost to keep those open, and that information was requested in January this year and also again in June, and none of that information came forward in the detail we needed to make a decision.

“It was a real shock to town councillors as well that they just decided to shut certain toilets or reduce the hours. So this notice of motion basically makes sure they abide by what they said last September in the meeting, that they would consult. So we are hoping to put a pause on the toilet closures and work really hard to find an alternative means of funding them.”

She added: “The budget was set last March, and within the detail of that budget was the potential for toilet closures, which was why as Conservatives, there were things we didn’t like about the budget, which was why we didn’t vote for it. We were shouted down on the day. But this is the reality. Budgets are always tight, but it is about priorities, and some of the cuts to frontline services that people need such as toilets we just felt we couldn’t support.

“Of course, it will damage tourism but also the likes of residents like myself and my family going out for a walk around Haulfre Gardens or around the Orme. The alternative when you’ve got young children is there isn’t one. You need to go when you need to go.”

A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council commented: “A request for a full council meeting has been submitted.”

Listed as closing on September 4 are toilets at:

Promenade, (Dingle) Opposite Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay
Maes Llan, Eglwysbach
Haulfre Gardens, Llandudno
St Tudno’s Church, St Tudno’s Road, Great Orm, Llandudno
Community Hall car park, Llanefydd
Next to the playing field, Llanelian yn Rhos
Fernbrook Road car park, Penmaenmawr
Promenade, near yacht club, Penmaenmawr
Llanerch Estate, Rowen
Off the playing field, Ysbyty Ifan
Listed as already closed are toilets at:

Tan Lan, Cerrigydrudion
Ivy Street car park, Colwyn Bay
Fairy Glen Road / Conwy Old Road, Dwygyfylchi
Beach car park, Llanddulas
Osbourne Road, car park opposite Post Office, Llandudno Junction
Village Road, Llanfairfechan
Station Road, Llanfairfechan
Watling Street, Llanrwst
Sandbank Road, Towyn
For a full list of the toilets set to close and the proposals, visit: https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Leisure-sport-and-health/Community-Facilities/Public-Toilets/List-of-Public-Toilets-in-Conwy.aspx