Businesses Urged To Open Toilets As Scarborough Faces Public Convenience Shortage

Local businesses in Scarborough are being asked to allow the public to use their facilities as the town centre grapples with a lack of public toilets ahead of the busy tourist season.

​Despite the fast-approaching tourist season, North Yorkshire Council (NYC) has not been able to secure a public bathroom in Scarborough’s town centre and has asked businesses to reach to the authority. with offers.

​Earlier this month, Scarborough businesses were asked to make their toilets available to the public following concerns over a lack of facilities in the town centre.

​A Community Toilet Initiative (CTI) proposed by Scarborough Town Council would provide “modest financial support, signage, and inclusion in promotional materials” to cafes, pubs, and shops that voluntarily make their toilet facilities available for public use.

​NYC said it had not been able to convince any local businesses to work with it to provide a public bathroom.

The push for community facilities comes amid growing concern over the lack of amenities in the town centre, particularly with the busy Easter period and summer tourist season approaching.

Raising the issue at a full council meeting this week, Councillor Rich Maw said:

"Scarborough currently has no public toilet provision in the town centre. With the tourist season fast approaching, residents and visitors will understandably be dismayed at that.

Can the executive member explain what immediate and longer term steps the council is taking to restore adequate public convenience provision in Scarborough town centre for residents and visitors alike?"

In response, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for managing the environment, Councillor Richard Foster, admitted that there is a gap in provision and appealed directly to local firms for help.

Councillor Richard Foster said:

"Since the closure of the Brunswick Centre, there hasn't been any actual provision really within the town centre. There was the railway station, there is the indoor market, but that's a seven minute walk away from the main retail space, so we do agree there is a gap there.

Officers have been working closely with businesses trying to get a community toilet up in place, but have so far failed to negotiate one. We realise it's an issue, we are looking at this, and there will be further things officers will bring forward for consideration.

That would be the easiest solution if we can get a local firm in place to help us with that. If anybody might be willing to negotiate something with us, please come forward.

As far as the West Pier goes and the Royal Parade in Filey, we have actually now secured some temporary facilities that we have been assured will be in place before Easter."

The community toilet proposals have been met with mixed reactions from local traders. One local coffee shop owner expressed concern over the burden it could place on smaller premises.

The local coffee shop owner said:

"Why should we volunteer for people to come in and use the toilets?

"If you were abroad, for example, in Italy, you would have the decency to go in and buy something and then ask if you could use a toilet.

"It's not just one person, sometimes it's five or six in one go, so it's not fair on small businesses."

However, Scarborough Town Council's mayor, Councillor Thomas Murray, defended the initiative as a necessary and pragmatic measure.

Councillor Thomas Murray said:

"It is a quick, practical step we can take to help meet a clear community need. Larger infrastructure solutions require engagement with North Yorkshire Council and, as many will know, that process rarely moves at lightning speed, so we are acting where we can.

"Scarborough Town Council is looking at realistic, deliverable solutions within our powers, doing what a town council can do, and doing it properly."

The shortage of facilities has been exacerbated by the recent closure of public conveniences at Building Number One on Scarborough's West Pier and at Royal Parade in Filey. Both sites were shut in February after engineers identified serious structural issues.

North Yorkshire Council has accelerated plans to install twenty temporary toilets across the two towns to ensure essential facilities are available for the Easter holidays. Fifteen temporary toilets will be located at the West Pier car park in Scarborough, while five will be placed at Royal Parade in Filey.

North Yorkshire Council's leader, Councillor Carl Les, acknowledged that the temporary provision is a reduction in the number of permanent toilets but stated that the authority had no alternative but to close the facilities due to safety concerns.

Related Stories

• 
  Temporary Toilets To Be Installed In Filey and Scarborough Ahead of Busy Easter Period

  16 Mar 2026 - Temporary toilets are due to be installed in two popular North Yorkshire coastal towns this month as swift action is taken to ensure ...
• 
  Scarborough Councillor's Fury Over 'County's Busiest Toilet' Closure

  13 Mar 2026 - Years of neglect- that's what a Scarborough councillor has accused leaders of presiding over. It's amid concern about toilet facilities on ...
• 
  Filey Town Council Expresses ‘Frustration’ Over Shock Closure of Seafront Toilets

  1 Mar 2026 - Filey Town Council has voiced its deep disappointment and frustration following the sudden closure of the Royal Parade public toilets, ...
• 
  Community Toilet Plan for Scarborough

  27 Feb 2026 - Businesses in Scarborough are to be asked to make their toilets available to the public. ​Plans for a 'community toilet initiative' will be ...
• 
  Building Closed on Scarborough Pier After Engineers Identify Possible Structural Issues

  26 Feb 2026 - Public toilets which are part of the building will be closed as well. A number of alternative toilet facilities remain open in the area, and ...
• 
  Scarborough Community Toilet Plan

  24 Feb 2026 - A Community toilet initiative is being discussed by Scarborough Town Council on Thursday as concerns rise about the low number of public ...