World Toilet Day – How York are Pulling the Chain on Public Toilet Problems

Did you know the 19th November was World Toilet day? Organisations around the world such as Water Aid and the British Toilets Association have taken the opportunity to raise the profile of the on going issue of adequate provision of public toilets across our country and the wider world. The issue of adequate access to public toilets has never been more in the public eye; this has been reflected in central government work on this issue over recent months. Communities and Local Government (CLG) publication of three papers has helped provide information and guidance to local authorities, to help them tackle the issue in a variety of ways suitable to their individual areas. ENCAMS have supported CLG with each of these, and continues to provide information and services to our partners to help them tackle this important issue.

Earlier this year the ‘Improving Public Access to Better Quality Toilets – a strategic guide’ was released. The guide sets out a range of approaches to tackle the issue, and encourages a partnership approach to identifying and providing that solution. ENCAMS was represented on the Steering Group that advised on this work by Alice Bodley (Market Research Director).

The second paper to be produced was “The Provision of Public Toilets”, published last month. This highlights the steady decline in provision of public toilets in recent years and states that whilst the Public Health Act 1936 gives local authorities with the power to provide public toilets, there is no obligation for them to do so.  The variation in provision and condition of public toilets across the UK is addressed, along with suggestions for innovative schemes to improve toilet provision at reasonable cost to local authorities.

World Toilet day saw the launch of the third paper ‘The Public Toilets Toolkit’. ENCAMS have assisted in the writing of this more practical guidance on issues such as Community Toilet Schemes. It gives details on the steps you need to consider before implementing such a scheme, and the practical considerations that go with each step. The City of York Council is one step ahead of the game, having already worked with ENCAMS on a service review of existing public toilets within the City Centre and adjacent areas, and on research into the viability of a Community Toilet Scheme (CTS) (as the guidance recommends).

The City of York is home to just under 200,000 people, and offers a range of tourist attractions that draw 4-million visitors to the City every year.  With the sheer volume of people passing through York, public toilets are a pressing issue.  ENCAMS has been pleased to work with the Council on identifying a range of solutions. ENCAMS has recently completed a two-stage project on behalf of the Council.

The first stage consisted of a service review of current provision, including an observational assessment of each of the public toilets sites for which the authority is responsible. The review highlighted “good news stories” for the council, identifying aspects of the service where standards were very high. Areas where “quick wins” could be easily achieved, such as improving sign-posting and signage, to address a perceived lack of facilities were also identified. 

The second stage involved in-depth consultation with local business owners / managers to gauge perception of the provision and condition of existing facilities, to the feasibility of introducing a Community Toilet Scheme in York.

This methodology follows the approach recommended by CLG. The Council are now considering the conclusions and recommendations identified in the study, and are analysing the most effective next steps to improve the provision in the identified area.