British Toilet Association: Archived News from the British Toilet Association 

Campaigner cycles length of Wales over lack of loos

Public toilets are becoming increasingly rare on the streets of the UK

A councillor has cycled the length of Wales to raise awareness about what she says is a severe lack of public toilets.

After riding 153 miles from Gwynedd to Cardiff, Louise Hughes is meeting AMs to ask for an improvement.

The British Toilet Association said the number had fallen about 40% in a decade.

It is her latest effort to highlight what she calls a backward step for "basic human dignity".

"I'm so glad I've done this and although I'm tired it's been very positive and I wanted to show that I am willing to go the extra mile on this," said Ms Hughes. "People who make the decisions don't use public toilets, but for the van drivers, postmen, busmen and lorry drivers who use these facilities they are very important," she said.

Ms Hughes said one lorry driver had told her he had been fined for indecent exposure for relieving himself on the side of the road after failing to find a public toilet.

"This is to do with human dignity, ultimately," she said.

"We are in the 21st Century, yet we are going backwards, and if no toilets are available then people will improvise, and that is vile."

Ms Hughes was meeting several AMs, and said: "Who knows, my next stop might be Westminster because I'm not giving up on this".

Mike Bone from the British Toilet Association said there were no figures available for the number of public toilets in the UK, but it was estimated that around 40% had been closed in the past 10 years.

"There has been a dramatic reduction at a time when we have an increased population, more visitors.

"As the need has increased the provision has decreased," he added.

Mr Bone said Wales was the only country in the UK which promoted a scheme where private businesses allow people to use on site toilets.

"But this should not be used as an excuse to close public toilets," he added.

The Welsh Assembly Government has been asked to comment.

BBC News 9th June 2010