Eleventh-hour bid to 'pause' Conwy toilet closures as updated locations released

A last-ditch effort is being made to delay the closure of public toilets in Conwy. A debate called by the council’s Welsh Conservatives group will call for a “pause” in proceedings to see if some facilities can still be saved.

Almost half the county’s public loos are due to close on September 4 or have closed already and will not reopen (see updated locations below). Last month’s announcement caused uproar in communities faced with losing their facilities.

Next Wednesday (August 21) Conwy’s councillors will hear an update on the toilets strategy. This sets out how many public buildings have confirmed their toilets will be accessible to the public, and how many private businesses are interested in sharing their facilities.

The following day (August 22), a special meeting has been arranged amid concerns councillors were not properly consulted about the final line-up of toilets to be closed. A Conservatives-led motion will call for a further report from officers clarifying governance procedures, and that the closure programme is put on hold until this report is available.

Cllr Louise Emery of the Gogarth Mostyn ward said: “Hopefully this will give us breathing space to see if we can get more businesses and town councils on board. A delay will give them more time to examine sponsorship and funding opportunities so they can keep toilets open or not see opening hours cut.”

Two toilet blocks currently slated for closure – at Haulfre Gardens in Llandudno, and Parisella’s ice cream outlet on Colwyn Bay promenade – may yet be kept open. Along with the cafe at Morfa Bach car park, Conwy, concession holders at these locations are being asked to take responsibility for on-site toilets.

As things stand, 19 toilets are due to close next month. This will leave 21 still open, including eight seasonal facilities. Nine of the 21 will depend on ongoing sponsorship from town and community councils, which could become problematic if costs increase in future years. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

These public toilets on Colwyn Bay promenade are to stay open. But another on the prom is closing and the future of a third is uncertain (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

Among the seven signatories to Thursday's Tory motion is Cllr Jo Nuttall. She represents Rhos on Sea, where £20m sea defence works have produced a tourist-friendly seafront. She said: “It is wholly shortsighted of the council to encourage all these people to come here without providing toilets that are open all year round.”

To mitigate the loss of toilet provision, the local authority is trying to claw it back in other ways. These are set out below.

Working with town and community councils

These were offered the chance to “collaborate” with the county council to keep their toilets or risk losing them. Three options were offered – to “sponsor local toilets by paying 10% of running costs; to take over cleaning responsibilities with Conwy Council supplying consumables and equipment; or to take over their toilets completely in return for an annual payment of £500.

Three councils agreed to the 10% option and the local authority is now trying to confirm their arrangements. Some county councillors now want other town and community councils to be given more time to reconsider.

Toilets in business premises

A new Community Toilet Scheme was set to encourage businesses – shops, pubs, cafe, restaurants and attractions – to open their facilities to the wider public. People could use them, free of charge, without being expected to buy anything. In return, participating businesses will be paid £500-a-year.

So far, 11 business owners have expressed an interest. Not among them is Darren Randle, who runs Coast Cafe sites on Rhos on Sea promenade and by Llandudno paddling pool.

He said: “We have an amazing new promenade here (in Rhos) but now the council wants to close many of the toilets. In Llandudno, the paddling pool toilets are now seasonal only, which doesn’t help when you’re trying to generate year-round trade at what is a gateway site for the town.

“We can’t apply to the toilet scheme as we only have two toilets and neither are disabled. Even if we could, it’s hard enough trying to manage the facilities we have without people queuing outside to use them.”

Council buildings

A list of potential 24 council-owned buildings has been identified. Of these, eight have toilets that are open for public use already (see list below).

Talks are ongoing with managers of the other 16. Conwy Council said initial discussions have been positive, especially at leisure centres. A trial period is being considered to monitor malicious use or increased costs. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

Paid-for toilets

Conwy Council is considering the introduction of charging in toilets that are currently free. However initial data suggests conversion costs may be significant – too much to recoup through public use. At council-owned sites where charging is in place already, the usage fee is 50p.

To assess if and where charging could be introduced, footfall data has been collected from public toilets in Eglwysbach, Ysbyty Ifan, Pensarn Promenade and Rhos on Sea Promenade. Footfall monitors will be moved to different sites each month to collect more data.