The Conservative Party has sided with the Government in refusing to consider the introduction of a statutory framework for the provision of public toilets by local authorities.

Speaking at the annual Conference of the British Toilet Association held on Wednesday 21st July at the Staverton Park Conference Centre in Northamptonshire, Eric Pickles, Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government, refused to accept that without proper provision legislation, public toilets in Britain will continue to decline and, in many areas, disappear altogether.

He expressed the view, already firmly held by the Government, that local authorities should provide public toilets (along with other local community public services) in line with the expectations and needs of local residents and visitors. Local ratepayers should react strongly, via the ballot box, where Councillors take actions which are against the wishes of their communities. This had already happened in Shepway, one of five Councils capped by the Government, who have been forced by public opinion to keep toilets open.

With so much concern already being expressed about levels of cleanliness in hospitals and town centres, public toilets need to be managed more effectively, to ensure Britain’s reputation as a clean, safe country to visit, is not further jeopardised.

The British Toilet Association is campaigning to halt the decline in the numbers of public toilets available to residents and visitors and to raise standards of provision and cleanliness in all ‘away from home’ toilets.

“Government policy appears to be encouraging local authorities to squeeze out ‘discretionary’ public services”, quotes BTA Director, Richard Chisnell. “With no legal obligation to provide any public toilets, coupled with the costs required to bring outdated toilets up to a DDA compliant standard by October this year, many Authorities are resorting to major closure programmes. The BTA believes that local authorities should have a statutory obligation to draw up a public toilet provision strategy, within their area, which could include partnerships with other (commercial) providers. Toileting is an everyday, basic, human necessity and requires a higher management profile everywhere.”

Mr Pickles provided some encouragement to Conference delegates by promising to review, if elected at the next General Election, current legislation which prohibits local authorities from charging for male urinals and installing turnstiles and also to consider removing business rates from public toilets.

“At the end of the day” he said, “people have the power to remove from office any local Councillor who fails to listen to the needs of local people. There must be greater public accountability for these essential local services”.

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