Full proposals by Bath and North East Somerset Council about the future of its 27 public conveniences have been unveiled by the Cabinet in response to concerns expressed and protests by members of the public and Councillors, back in September.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said, "The £3.3 million contract remains the same for Bath and North East Somerset Council to work with a company to improve thirteen of our public conveniences. After listening to the public on key aspects of concern, the changes to our original proposals are twofold.
"Firstly, the Automatic Public Conveniences at Charlotte Street and Shaftesbury Road are added to the contract until 2020 at no additional cost to the Council. Secondly, the five toilets which had been earmarked for closure, but for which there is currently no alternative provision, will remain open on the current basis for up to one year to offer the opportunity for their long-term future to be settled.
"It is important that we get the balance right between offering high quality, well- placed public conveniences and an affordable proposition for local taxpayers for the long-term future of these facilities."
The proposal will be part of the budget for 2014/15 that will be considered by the Council in February 2014. The extra money required to maintain those toilets that were originally to be closed with no alternative is £120,000 and is proposed to be funded from reserves.
Toilets that are part of the investment programme include Riverside Coach Park, Charlotte Street Car Park, Royal Victoria Park play area, Parade Gardens, Memorial Park, Keynsham, Odd Down Park and Ride, Sydney Gardens, Alice Park, Henrietta Park, Monksdale Road, Alexandra Park, Monmouth Street and The Shallows, in Saltford. The Approach Golf Course has already been handed over to Aquaterra, whilst a new facility will open at Newbridge Park and Ride.
A temporary cleaning, locking and repairs-only arrangement will be in place at Ashton Way, Keynsham (until the town centre is redeveloped in Autumn 2014), Gullock Tyning, Midsomer Norton (until mid-2015 when the leisure contract is awarded with public convenience provision included).
Up to one year cleaning, locking and repairs-only arrangement will be in place for toilets at Dominion Road – Twerton, High Street – Weston, Bradford Road – Combe Down, Larkhall Square and Peasedown St John. The Council will work with the community and Ward Councillors to assess a business case for each.
Current APCs at Charlotte Street and Shaftesbury Road are set to continue until 2020. Batheaston and Paulton Parish Council are working with the Council to take over running the public conveniences in these locations. The APC contract at Midsomer Norton terminated in agreement with the Town Council as part of the Town Hall Community Asset Transfer and Royal Victoria Park Pavilion will close as planned, early in 2014. Alternatives will be available nearby at Charlotte Street APC and the car park block.
Speaking this week, Conservative Shadow Neighbourhoods Spokesman, Cllr Geoff Ward, said: "The fact that B&NES has bowed to public pressure and is to keep open more of our area's public toilets marks a great victory for all the residents who have campaigned against these toilet closures. It's just a shame it took a huge public petition and a vote at Full Council to force the Lib-Dems to listen to local concerns.
"Conservatives argued that the Council could squeeze better value for money out of its public toilets contract, in order to keep more toilets open and we feel we have been proved right on this. We still believe the Council could negotiate even more out of this contract to enable more toilets to remain open for good. Now that these toilets have been saved for at least another year, we will continue to press the Council to find ways of securing the future of public toilet provision for the long term."