Council may impose charges on free toilets as it looks to increase provision
Conwy County Borough Council's local toilet strategy aims to provide more and better public loos - but on a 'cost neutral basis'.
The council's 'local toilet strategy' will be discussed at the economy and place overview and scrutiny committee, on Wednesday, August 20.
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The report noted that as part of the ongoing review, some free toilets were being looked at for their "suitability" for charging.
Some toilets, including some which had been vandalised, had already seen closures as part of cost cutting measures.
The report describes how the council has been collaborating with town and community councils and local groups to provide facilities between 2025/26
It had also made more council toilets, across its services and buildings, accessible to the public, and had tried to encourage more local business to make their facilities available.
The report noted there were currently 48 public toilets across the county.
These included 21 public toilets run by CCBC, 20 council buildings with public access, five public toilets managed by local community groups, town and community councils and two businesses signed up to the 'community toilet scheme'.
They included the George and Dragon public house in Llangernyw, Llannefydd and Knightley's Fun Park, Towyn.
The report said it aimed to "engage" with more local businesses, but noted that efforts so far to expand the community toilet scheme had been "unsuccessful".
However, an application form was still on council's toilet strategy website and open for new applications.
The report had also noted there were public toilets in Llangernyw, Llansannan, Penmachno, Dolwyddelan, Pentrefoelas, Llannefydd and Llanfairfechan which were now managed by local community groups or town and community councils.
With their support, the 21 public toilets would remain open across nine wards during 2025/26, the report said.
Of those, 20 would be open year-round, with only one will closed during the winter
It noted that where no sponsorship agreement had been reached, or where no interest in the transfer of the toilet expressed, the building would be declared "vacant and surplus to requirement," to reduce maintenance and utility costs.
This had already applied to six public toilets, which had added to the three public toilets that had already closed, the report said "due to being in a poor condition or having been badly vandalised".
"Ongoing action" had also seen the council "monitor footfall" at council operated public toilets
Data had been collected from Eglwysbach; Rhos on Sea Promenade; Pensarn Promenade; West Shore, Llandudno; Pentrefoels; Pont y Pair, Betws y Coed.
As part of the ongoing work to review the toilets that were currently free, and to "consider the suitability for introducing charges," the report had stated that 13 of the 21 public toilets currently open, already had charging arrangements installed (62%).
A remaining eight were sponsored by a town council, with seven to remain free of charge, and one to be relocated.
Discussions had also begun with a company "who can provide contactless payment facilities on public toilets" the strategy report had noted.
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