Views sought of provision of public toilets in district

25 November 2020

RATEPAYERS are being asked for their views on a new public toilet strategy for the district.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council is conscious that improvements to existing provision to enable people to spend a penny will come at a cost, with ratepayers having to foot the bill.

That is why they are being asked to have a key input into the strategy which has been in the pipeline for some time and focuses on the council’s 31 public toilets across the district.

The local authority has earmarked £1.2m for an overhaul of public toilet provision over the next three years and in addition to asking ratepayers for their views, the organisation has also enlisted the help of the British Toilet Association.

Council chiefs aim to upgrade toilets with the proposed spend coming in the wake of major concerns about toilet provision across the district, especially in the Newcastle area where there have been complaints about the poor state of conveniences and their opening hours in a busy tourist area.

The British Toilet Association (BTA) works with local authorities to discuss standard of toilet provision, strategy and issues related to design, layout, product, service needs, security and maintenance.

BTA representatives have already visited the district’s 31 public toilets and provided council officials with a document which provides a detailed overview of the current standard of each one.

Council officials have also set up a public toilet review working group which helped establish what is being described as a “forward thinking strategy” to provide the best level of services to ratepayers and visitors.

Council officials are also understood to have drawn up plans to improve public toilet provision and investigate potential new conveniences, with Newcastle and Saintfield previously identified as priority areas.

Detailed condition surveys were also ordered at all existing public toilets to determine whether the existing structures can be refurbished to an appropriate standard or whether a replacement toilet is required.

Council officials insist the new strategy will assist them in directing staff on how best to use the capital spend to significantly enhance existing public toilet provision across the council area.

Politicians say they recognise that a major capital programme is required to upgrade existing toilets and implement planned improvements, designed to ensure the facilities meet the needs of a wider range of people.

Looking at current public toilet provision across the district and how it can change, the new strategy is viewed as a key document in a district which relies heavily on tourism.

While the local authority has no legal responsibility to provide public toilets, the strategy concludes that it should continue to provide a public toilet service and that a range of improvements should be considered including increasing provision, reviewing opening hours, functionality, cleaning practices, maintenance, corporate branding and advertising.

In addition, there is a recognition within the strategy that such improvements whilst having a value, come at a cost and so consideration on how this can be financed must be considered and agreed as part of any planned improvements.

Council chairwoman, Laura Devlin, said public toilets were an essential public service.

She added: “I would encourage all residents, businesses and visitors, to take the time to complete the questionnaire which is seeking views on the recommendations within the strategy.”

The public consultation launched last Friday and runs until Friday, February 12, while for further information and to complete the questionnaire visit www.newrymournedown.org/consultations-residents.

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