Toilet closure fears in popular tourist destination
Bruce Sinclair, local democracy reporter
Fears have been raised that public toilets could close in a popular seaside village, with a petition opposing the move gaining 1,400 signatures already.
Llangrannog Welfare Committee has raised concerns about the potential closure of the toilets in the village, famous for being the home of the Urdd centre.
The petition states: “Public toilets are a fundamental aspect of public health and safety, particularly in a popular tourist destination like Llangrannog. Lack of access to public toilets can lead to hygiene issues, health problems, and safety concerns, impacting both residents and visitors. CCC has a responsibility to ensure the provision of adequate sanitation facilities for the public.”
‘High volume of visitors’
It goes on to say: “As a popular tourist destination, Llangrannog experiences a high volume of visitors, especially during peak seasons. Maintaining public toilets is crucial for managing the impact of visitors on the local environment and community.
“CCC should consider the long-term implications of their decisions regarding public toilet provision, ensuring that future generations can also enjoy the area without facing sanitation challenges.
“The village would lose its Blue Flag status without the toilets. Gwersyll yr Urdd Llangrannog camp would no longer be able to visit the beach with the thousands of children they host every year.”
‘Essential’
Secretary for the Llangrannog Welfare Committee, and Llangrannog community councillor, Dr Kathryn Dawes said: “There is no doubt that the facilities are essential in Llangrannog – the council don’t dispute this, but they do say they can no longer run them as they do now.
“The specific issue with Llangrannog is that our community council is not suited to running the toilets as the council expect all town/community councils to do. We are a small council with no previous experience of owning/maintaining facilities and we do not have the money either (we’d have to double the precept to even begin to take them on).
“CCC have sprung this on all of us; some councils such as Aberporth are larger, have more money, are more dynamic and can manage it. Llangrannog cannot. We also have (for the size of our village and number of actual residents) a disproportionate amount of visitors including the hundreds of kids coming down daily all year from the Urdd Camp.
“The majority of people feel that this is a Council responsibility even if it is not a statutory duty – health & safety, tourism and the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act clearly show this.”
A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “Ceredigion has 33 public toilets. The council is currently engaging with town and community councils to see whether they will take on the responsibility for running toilets located in their area.
“In most cases, service level agreements or leases are being progressed to keep toilets open in the county.”
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Second sentence in the article…. Are the toilets really the home of Yr Urdd?
Why doesn’t Dr Kathryn Dawes the secretary of the Llangrannog Welfare Committee engage with Cyngor Sir Ceredigion to resolve this issue. It was solved in Carmarthenshire with the 10towns project using ‘places and community’ grant funding. Photo example of engagement with Cyngor Tref Cydweli, new toilet block.
Ongoing cleaning and maintenance costs is expected to be shouldered from next years ‘tourist tax’. This will also put the cat amongst the pigeons for Reform (Cllr Beer caught short) and puts Porth Tywyn to shame.
Not seeing that solution in our part of Carmarthenshire having an effect. Delivery drivers still defecating at passing points on country lanes. Scarce public conveniences have restrictive hours. For every pound of non-domestic taxation collected from tourist businesses, how minor a % is returned to run these amenities?
Isn’t the tourism tax supposed to cover such amenities?
Not before it’s started
Why don’t the “1400 petitioners” or the tourists make a (financial) contribution?
Tourists fleeced by the Parking Pirates of Llangrannog Bay (search blogspot) may have expected some of that loot to have contributed to local essential amenities; instead their cash has gone towards a helicopter for the Worthing based OPS & dividends. Is OPS even paying business rates yet here? Ceredigion began enforcement in 2019. A significant portion of that NNDR ought to be allocated to LWC/running the toilets. County Coucillors ought to drilling into figures and asking questions at scrutiny committee.
Charging is better than closure because that can be easily reversed when finances change. Of course some still would rather it closed so they can lament their demise they caused by opposing charges. It makes good small talk.
Of course even if toilets are provided, some will not use them. I was at Manorbier beach recently, and there were piles of human faeces and used toilet paper along the footpath leading from the beach. The public toilet is about 100 mtrs. away. I assume those camping on the beach couldn’t be bothered to walk that far. I also like to camp on beaches and in the hills, so my number 1 piece of equipment is a small trowel to bury my poop. Perhaps when the tourist tax comes in some of it could go to warning notices at… Read more »