North Yorkshire's Public Toilets are Threatened with Closure as New 50p Fee Proposed

A fee of up to 50p could be introduced to use public toilets across North Yorkshire, while underused or dilapidated conveniences could be closed.

A North Yorkshire Council review of the authority’s network of toilets recommends that a consistent entry fee be introduced for all facilities.

A report prepared by a public conveniences working group suggests that the executive decide on either a 40p or 50p charge to use the facilities.

The authority is currently responsible for 85 traditional toilet blocks and eight changing places toilets — more than any other council in the UK with most sites being within the former Scarborough Borough Council and Harrogate Borough Council localities.

Of the 93 public conveniences, 65 are currently free to use. The service is forecast to cost the authority £230,000 in 2025/26.

The working group concluded that the current situation was unsustainable and suggested five principles to guide future provision.

The first principle outlined plans to support alternative provision of the county’s toilets and help organisations rake over the maintenance of toilets currently operated by the council.

On the second principle on entry fees, the report states:

“To ensure the network operates on a sound and sustainable financial basis, a standard entry fee will be introduced at all sites, where it is practical and effective.

“Where such infrastructure cannot be implemented, alternative solutions such as physical or digital ‘honesty boxes’ will be considered.”

The third principle focuses on rationalisation of the conveniences, with closure considered for facilities in poor condition, that have low usage, or are located near alternative toilets.

Talks will also be held with town and parish councils offering them the opportunity to operate the site under an “enhanced support package”.

The report adds:

“If all alternative options are exhausted, the site will be closed and disposed of.

“Any capital receipts will be ring-fenced and reinvested into improving the remaining network.”

The fourth principle looks at integrating toilets with car park operations which could see parking charges increased to cover toilet cleaning and consumables, while the fifth proposes a capital improvements programme.

This would see a condition assessment carried out on all toilets and areas for improvement identified, with the aim of all sites achieving a ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ condition rating by 2030.

The report will be discussed by members of the transport, economy, environment and enterprise overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday next week.

Members will look to make a number of recommendations based on the principles to the executive committee.

The proposed introduction of usage fees has already proved controversial with Norton division councillor Keane Duncan launching a ‘free to pee’ campaign when they were proposed for toilets in Malton as part of a double-devolution transfer to Malton Town Council.

The transfer collapsed after more than 2,600 people signed a petition against the proposal.

Cllr Duncan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he continued to believe it should be ‘free to pee’ in North Yorkshire.

He added:

“Toilets should be treated as a basic and accessible public service, not a paid-for luxury.

“Charging should not be imposed bluntly, in a wholesale fashion, without proper consideration of local circumstances and meaningful public consultation.

“The proposal to increase car parking charges to pay for toilets is particularly worrying. I will be pressing the executive to fully consider the impact of proposals to expand charging before any decisions are made.”

It is estimated that between one and two million people visit North Yorkshire Council’s facilities each year.