Public loos could close as part of budget cuts

THE future of the last remaining public loos in three towns has been thrown into doubt by council budget cuts.

Facilities in Maesteg, Bridgend and Porthcawl “may have to close” as Bridgend council works to identify about £6m of savings. Budget reduction proposals for 2018-19 include a 60% cut to the public toilet budget.

The authority has now launched a public consultation on the toilets at Maesteg bus station, Griffin Park, Rest Bay and John Street in Porthcawl and the bus station and Cheapside (opposite Asda) in Bridgend.

Cabinet member for communities Richard Young said: “Due to the financial situation we simply cannot continue to run public toilets in the way that we do now.”

He said the county council is already in advanced talks about transferring the Griffin Park toilets to Porthcawl Town Council and it is looking at whether facilities could also be taken over by the relevant town councils.

Over the last couple of years Bridgend council has reduced the number of public loos in the three town centres from nine to six, but facilities in other places have closed as well including Kenfig National Nature Reserve, Price Town Square and Blackmill Square in the Ogmore Valley and Pandy Road in Aberkenfig.

When they were shut for good in November 2015 Bridgend council kept the John Street, Griffin Park and Rest Bay toilets open after an outpouring of support from the public.

The toilets under the Rhiw shopping centre Bridgend also closed in 2015, as did the facilities in the basement of the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl.