Newquay Council to discuss community toilet scheme with pub operators

The proposal, which is currently being investigated by a committee within the council, could see local businesses, including pubs, offer their facilities to the public in return for publicity, money for maintenance and a potential boost in trade.

If introduced, public toilets would still exist but some may be sold or open for reduced hours, which could save the town’s taxpayers thousands of pounds on cleaning and repairing.

Mayor of Newquay Andy Hannan, who is chairman of the committee, said councillors are carrying out an informal consultation on the scheme and asked the pub trade to remain “open-minded”.

“At the moment we are in the very early consultation stage. We’re using this chance to talk to businesses and show them how the scheme might work.

“I wouldn’t expect anyone to sign up to it yet because it’s something we‘ve only started looking at, but there are benefits for businesses.

“We will see whether there is an appetite for it. It will only work if businesses support it – we can’t force it onto businesses.”

Future discussions​

JD Wetherspoon has already welcomed the chance to discuss the proposal. A spokesperson for the pub chain said: “It is up to the discretion of individual managers whether they allow someone to use the pub toilet without eating or drinking in the pub, but in most cases managers are happy to assist in one off cases.

“Ultimately it is for council themselves to provide such facilities and we believe they should continue to do this without relying on businesses.

“However, we would be happy to speak with them to discuss this further and learn about the project in more detail.”

Contrary to a statement from another councillor published in the Cornwall Guardian​ last week, St Austell Brewery told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser​ that they have not snubbed the proposal but will be discussing the project with the council in September before making a decision.

Cash-strapped​

Newquay Town Council took over running nine public conveniences in the town this year after Cornwall Council threatened to close them to save money.

The town council has suggested introducing the Community Toilet Scheme for next year; if the scheme is not introduced the council said they will be forced to increase tax.

Hannan said: “The cost of keeping all toilets open is very high, so before we make a decision to increase the council tax bill we want to look at alternatives.

“The scheme would not be a way to get rid of all public toilets but to compliment them. Businesses are not open all the time and we need toilets outside of these hours.”

The committee will next meet in September to discuss their initial findings, after which they will hold a formal consultation if there is enough support for the scheme.

Similar systems have been successfully implemented elsewhere in the UK, in Richmond, Lambeth, Stockport and Oxford.