A campaign is growing to keep North Yorkshire's public toilets free of charge, despite council plans to introduce a usage fee to help fund a major improvement programme.
A campaign to keep public conveniences free of charge is gaining momentum as North Yorkshire Council presses ahead with plans to roll out usage fees across the county.
Despite significant pushback, senior councillors are set to be presented with a series of recommendations regarding the future management of the authority's public toilets at an executive committee meeting next Tuesday.
The proposed changes include introducing a usage fee of either 40p or 50p, closing underused or dilapidated facilities, and encouraging town and parish councils to take over the running of their local conveniences.
However, there is a strong focus from campaigners demanding that the facilities remain free of charge for both residents and tourists.
Councillor Keane Duncan, the Conservative member for the Norton division, launched a 'free to pee' campaign over previous plans to charge users of conveniences in Malton. He noted that he had since been contacted by people across North Yorkshire who believed public toilets were a basic, fundamental service that should remain free to access.
Councillor Duncan said:
"The stated aim of charges is to raise revenue, but the reality is far more complex. In many locations, expanding charging is impractical and costly to deliver.
The evidence is far from clear it will generate the returns suggested – particularly once you take into account the cost of barriers, ongoing maintenance and enforcement, alongside lower footfall in many areas.
That is why alternatives must be properly exhausted first. We should be actively pursuing external investment and giving real weight to practical options such as voluntary contributions and local partnerships."
Plans to introduce charges for using public conveniences were initially announced in February. However, a debate on the issue was cancelled amid concerns from members within the controlling Conservative and Independents group on the council.
A report prepared by a council working group ahead of the upcoming meeting proposes that the authority should prioritise collaborating with others, including the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. The goal is to find financial support to operate toilets used by tourists. This external funding could help support council-owned conveniences in areas of North Yorkshire that are popular with visitors.
North Yorkshire Council is currently responsible for eighty-five traditional toilet blocks and eight changing places toilets, which is more than any other council in the United Kingdom.
Out of the ninety-three facilities across the county, sixty-five are currently free to use.
The public toilet service is forecast to cost the authority £230,000 in the 2025/26 financial year, prompting the council to look for ways to cover the ongoing expenses.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for managing our environment, Councillor Richard Foster, has responsibilities that include the county's public toilets.
Councillor Foster said:
"We have inherited a mixed and often ageing estate of public toilets, a number of which have fallen into poor condition after years of under‑investment.
A major improvement programme is required that would commit us to bringing these essential facilities up to a consistently high standard across the county.
If agreed, once refurbished, we will seek to introduce charges to ensure they can be properly maintained, kept clean and remain open for residents and visitors long into the future."
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