Public toilets in parks to stay open during latest national lockdown

PUBLIC toilets in Bristol’s parks will remain open during the third national lockdown, the council has confirmed.

However, there will not necessarily be 24/7 access as “opening and closing times may be revised”.

One man has branded the shortage of public conveniences in the city centre an “absolute joke”, with the controversial community toilet scheme meaning that many loos are inside locked restaurants, cafes and bars.

Bristol City Council confirmed via Twitter this week: “The community scheme public toilets are closed because of the pandemic.

“Toilets in parks will remain open but opening and closing times may be revised due to time of year.”

It was in response to a complaint from a member of the public, who said toilets at Millennium Square, The Downs, the Suspension Bridge, Underfall Yard and Brunel’s Buttery were all closed.

There was controversy when the council closed 18 public conveniences in 2018 as part of cost-cutting, instead encouraging businesses to offer free use of their facilities.

The move, which saved the council £440,000 a year, retained most of the toilets in public parks.

While more than 100 businesses have since signed up to the community toilet scheme, most of those are closed during lockdown and inaccessible.

While toilets at Cabot Circus are part of the community scheme, they were among the few to remain open during the first hard lockdown.

With all but non-essential shops now closed at the shopping centre, the Post has sought confirmation as to whether or not they will stay open again this time.

According to the council’s website, these are the public toilets that operate outside of the community scheme:

Albion Marina Public Toilets Bristol Bus Station

The Galleries Shopping Centre

Asda Bedminster

St George’s Park public toilets Suspension Bridge

Sea Walls

Several more are listed as being part of the community toilet scheme, but in parks.

The council advised that toilets in parks will be open, although it is not clear if this applies to all:

Victoria Park; Redcatch Park; St Andrews Park; Canford Park; Hengrove Play Park; Conham River Park; Snuff Mills; Ashton Court; Brandon Hill; Oldbury Court.

The only other facilities likely to be open for public use are those in essential shops like supermarkets.

The Post heard from harbourside residents during the first lockdown, who claimed people were using their doorsteps as toilets and even defecating there as people drank along the waterfront.

North Somerset Council has confirmed that its public toilets, which it has listed on its website, will stay open this lockdown.