Toilet users may have to splash out to spend penny
CHARGE FOR PUBLIC LOOS
NOTTINGHAM City Council is considering introducing charges to use public toilets in the city centre as part of a raft of cost-saving measures.
Members of the public could be forced to pay to use the toilets at the Greyhound Street site, just off the Old Market Square, from April this year if the proposals are approved.
The charges would be taken via a contactless, cashless payment mechanism.
Documents released last month show that introducing a charge to use the toilets could save the council £45,000 per year, part of a wider savings target of £1.26 million to the council’s leisure, culture and IT portfolio in the council’s 2021/22 budget.
Other public toilet sites maintained by the council are likely to remain as free-of-charge facilities. The council report specifically names the facilities at the Bulwell Bus Station as one where charges will not be introduced.
A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “We are having to find a further £15.6m of savings his year, on top of £271m of savings over the past 11 years due to Government funding cuts, and so tougher decisions are having to be made.
“We appreciate that many people value public toilets and so while some councils have closed their facilities, we are proposing to follow others by introducing a charge.
“A 30p charge is proposed which is in line with toilet fees elsewhere and will contribute towards the operational cost of the toilets, including staffing to enhance safety and security and regular cleaning. “Payment would be by card only to reduce the risk of theft or vandalism. “Staff would have the flexibility to allow people to access the toilets free of charge in certain circumstances.” The move is part of a sweep of cuts across virtually all areas of the city council’s budget, including reductions in the number of Community Protection Support Officers and Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) officers operating in the city.
The council was forced to produce an emergency three-year rescue plan to stem losses across the board in the wake of the collapse of Robin Hood Energy.
As part of the recovery package, Nottingham residents will face a council tax increase of 1.99 percent in April - the maximum amount permitted - and the council will be forced to shed 272 jobs to cut costs.
A 30p charge will contribute towards the operational cost of the toilets.
City Council