Honiton's public loos subject to review with talk of charging and closure

A major review of East Devon's public toilet provision is set to be launched which could see the closure of some loos.

Honiton's Lace Walk car park toilets could be refurbished and start charging, while King Street car park toilets might end up being closed – if plans get the go-ahead.

More than six years after a review of the toilets run by East Devon District Council was first mooted, a consultation over the public toilet service in the district has been re-launched.

Councillors were told that the continued provision at the current level is no longer sustainable, with the review seeking to balance the savings requirement with protecting a level of toilet provision.

And while public toilets matter to everyone, as the provision is not a statutory service the council is required to provide, the review aims to reduce the costs of providing the service.

With the council facing a £3m budget gap, the review will look at ways ways in which the service is provided, the number of overall toilets they provide – particularly in locations where demand is less or alternative facilities exist.

All of the council-run toilets have been provisionally split into three categories.

Category A: Where provision will be maintained and investment made to bring them up to standard.

Category B: Where they will look to consider marketing a lease opportunity for a different offer such as a café, to include a publicly accessible toilet.

Category C: Where there would be no commercial alternative and would be offered to town and parish councils to run, but if they turned down the chance, they would be closed.

The proposed categorisation of the toilets run by East Devon:

CATEGORY A

Lace Walk, Honiton

Cliff Path, Budleigh Salterton

Jubilee Gardens, Beer

Magnolia Centre, Exmouth

Phear Park, Exmouth

West Walk, Seaton

Triangle, Sidmouth

Imperial Recreation Ground, Exmouth

The Maer, Exmouth

Seaton Hole, Seaton

Brook Road, Budleigh Salterton

Exmouth Bus Station, Exmouth

Marsh Road, Seaton

The review will also determine whether to install contactless paid access on the retained toilets to enable a future income to help meet deficits and improve toilet standards.

It will assess in-house operation, which is more cost effective than private sector operators, and whether they resolve to continue operation on this basis.

In his report to the cabinet, Andrew Hancock, service lead for StreetScene, said: "This review seeks to balance the savings requirement with protecting a level of toilet provision, enhancing and investing in retained stock.

"The overall objective of the council should be to provide high quality, modern facilities that are mainly located in town centres, tourist areas and parks which help support these areas.

"We recognise that public toilet provision is an emotive subject and an important service. It is however non-statutory and costs almost £900,000 per year including recharges.

"With budget pressure from reducing government grants we must look at transforming how we operate services, and our medium term financial plan sets out targets for savings from different ways of operating."

Cllr Geoff Jung, portfolio holder for the environment, said: "Most of our public conveniences were built in the 1950s and the plumbing and structures are not as they were."

Cllr Paul Hayward, portfolio holder for economy and assets, added that change was necessary and the council had to think about what was considered necessary going forward.

He called for all the towns and parishes affected to be invited into the discussion to see if they can run them more efficiently, and said there would need to be some innovative thinking, and that 'some things won't be palatable, but this needs to be done'.

Cllr Cathy Gardner said that she was concerned about any charging for toilets as it would be a retrograde step for public health and as charging reduces the use of toilets, the council should do all they can to avoid it.

A recommendation that a capital budget of £3.15 million be set as part of the 2022/23 budget for the rebuild or refurbishment of all Category A public toilets, subject to the results of the consultation, was also made to full council.