Residents and visitors are being informed of changes to public toilet provision in Denbighshire following collaborative working to keep most county facilities open.
In November last year the Council’s Cabinet agreed proposals that will keep most public toilets in the county open thanks to the support of city, town and community councils.
The proposals were developed after money received by the council had not kept up with financial pressures and the increasing cost of delivering services, especially statutory services like social care and education. This meant less money to spend on “Place-Making” services, like public toilets.
Although the Council recognises their importance, public toilets are a non-statutory service, and local authorities have no legal obligation to provide them. However, the Council worked with city, town and community councils to collaborate together on a sustainable model to fund and protect as many facilities as possible. This model incudes direct financial contributions from the city, town and community councils.
Following this work, there are changes to charging for the toilets which will see the installation of contactless payment/entry systems commencing in March, the refurbishment of toilets and the closure of three facilities across Denbighshire. These changes are as follows:
- From 1 April Prestatyn toilets will have an entry charge of 50p at Nant Hall Road and Nova. Prestatyn’s Barkby Beach facilities will undergo extensive refurbishment during the summer. Before the start of this work access to Barkby Beach toilets will remain free, temporary facilities will be in place whilst the work is carried out and on completion a 50p will be introduced at the site.Toilets at Prestatyn’s bus station and train station will no longer be available.
- Toilets at Rhyl Town Hall, Rhyl Children’s Village, Events Arena, and Rhyl Botanical Gardens will have an entry charge of 40p. Rhyl’s Old Golf Road facilities will undergo extensive refurbishment during the summer. Before the start of this work access to these toilets will remain free, temporary facilities will be in place whilst the work is carried out and on completion a 40p will be introduced at the site.
- Rhuddlan Princes Street Toilets will have an entry fee of £1 following refurbishment of the facilities over the summer, whilst this facility is closed, temporary facilities will be made available.
- St Asaph Toilet facilities will have an entry fee of £1 from 1 April
- Llangollen Market Street and Riverside Park toilet facilities will have an entry fee of £1 from 1 April.
- Ruthin Cae Ddol facilities will receive a refurbishment over the coming months. Whilst this facility is closed, temporary facilities will be made available.
- Ruthin Market Street Toilets will close from 31st March and the toilet facilities in Denbighshire County Council offices within the building reception area will be available for the public to use between 9.00am and 5.00pm (Monday to Friday)
- Denbigh Factory Ward Toilet facilities will close on 31 March.
- Dyserth Waterfall Toilet facilities will close from 31 March.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said, “I want to once again thank the town and community councils for their positive energy and collaboration that supported everyone in reaching this position where we can now keep most of our public toilets open. I’d also like to thank residents and visitors for their support and patience whilst refurbishment work is carried out on some of the sites.”
Work to introduce the contactless systems at Llangollen, Rhyl, Prestatyn and St Asaph sites is expected to take between two to three days dependant on weather.
These facilities will remain open for use during this work, except for NOVA where temporary toilet facilities will be provided for a period of four days due to scale of the work needed at this site.
Further information regarding the planned refurbishment work periods for some of the facilities listed will be provided through the Council’s social media channels and website.