Dear Prime Minister

I am writing on behalf of The British Toilet Association, as well as all residents of and visitors to the UK, to urge you to introduce a statutory obligation on all public service providers covering the provision of adequate and fully inclusive toilet facilities.

Public toilet provision by Local Authorities is currently a discretionary service and, faced with increasing financial pressures and the requirement to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, many Authorities are resorting to major toilet closure programmes.

The BTA has recently carried out a (voluntary) public toilet Provision Survey among UK Local Authorities, with a 31% response rate (copy survey form enclosed). This shows that public toilet numbers in England and Wales have declined by a further 18% since the Audit Commission stopped collecting data in 2000. Furthermore, only 65% of public toilets remaining have provision for users with special needs and only 21% provide a babychange facility for both sexes. Facilities for young children and family groups are virtually non-existent. Our survey also showed that only 29% of public toilets remain open for more than twelve hours a day, to cater for the expanding night-time economy.

If the provision numbers give cause for concern, the poor standards of many public toilets remaining, coupled with the levels of associated anti-social behaviour, suggest we are facing a serious crisis with potential significant impact on general public health, hygiene and quality of life standards.

The BTA receives a large number of press cuttings each week relating to the deteriorating position of public toilet provision (samples enclosed) and the Association believes that, unless the Government initiates a significant increase in investment, with accompanying legislation, Britain's tourism industry will be seriously jeopardised. Our public toilets were once the envy of the civilised world. Our standards have fallen way behind many other countries and, in many areas, are a disgrace to Britain in the 21st century.

We also believe that other statutory service providers, such as transport operators, hospitals and schools should be required by law to provide adequate toilet facilities, maintained to a minimum standard of cleanliness and user safety.

It is easily possible to achieve adequate standards of toilet provision, as manifested by the many hundreds of Awards recently presented in the 2003 Loo of the Year Awards, promoted by The British Toilet Association (copy results brochure enclosed).

Many 'away from home' toilet providers already recognise the added value benefits associated with high standards of toilet provision but, without Government support for provision legislation, a further significant number of public toilets are likely to be closed in advance of the DDA compliance requirement next October.

The British Toilet Association wishes to see implemented a number of key public toilet provision objectives as follows: -

1. The introduction of a statutory requirement for toilet provision by all public service providers - Local Authorities, bus and train operators etc.
2. The introduction of minimum legal standards of provision covering all types of toilet user - i.e. equality of provision of female facilities to male; fully inclusive facilities for users with special needs - the disabled, babies and young families, as well as extended hours of availability.
3. The criminalisation of anti-social behaviour in public toilets - vandalism, illegal substance abuse, sex (of any type) and vagrancy.
4. The criminalisation of street urination.
5. The ability for Local Authorities to charge for the use of public toilets, on a discretionary basis. It is currently unlawful to charge for male urinals.
6. The encouragement (by law if necessary) of non-municipal toilet providers (e.g. pubs, restaurants, cafes) to permit public use of toilet facilities provided.
7. The introduction of a statutory obligation on all mobile café operators - where food and drink are consumed on site - to provide accompanying mobile toilet facilities.

Prime Minister, we cannot allow the current generally poor and unacceptable standards of public toilet provision to continue. I implore you to authorise an immediate examination of the current levels and standards of provision throughout the UK and act swiftly to restore civic pride in this most basic but vitally necessary public service.

The British Toilet Association is ready and willing to assist with any Government initiative and remains committed to bringing about an increase in standards of both provision and maintenance. We simply require your Government to appreciate the significant benefits, which will accrue for both residents and visitors to the UK and to support our campaign to raise standards.

Yours sincerely

Richard Chisnell
Director, British Toilet Association

For further information contact: