Free Public Toilets in Middle of Porthcawl Face Closure – Wales Online
Plans over the future of a Porthcawl public toilet have gone out for consultation to determine the community’s preference for the John Street toilets. Situated in a Grade II-listed building, the toilets are currently managed by Porthcawl Town Council under a licence from Bridgend County Borough Council. This arrangement has been in place since 2019. However, escalating maintenance costs for the century-old facility, coupled with challenges in budgeting due to vandalism and ongoing maintenance issues, have prompted the local council to seek residents’ input on the fate of the toilets.
A public meeting held on September 7 by the town council highlighted the poor state of repair of the John Street toilets and the cost implications of renovating the building. A report from Porthcawl Town Council revealed that operational expenses for the structure in 2023 exceeded £26,000, with additional costs incurred from vandalism and antisocial behaviour. The report noted the necessity of public toilets in public spaces and proposed several options for the toilets’ future.
Suggestions included terminating the current operating licence and returning the building to Bridgend council or potentially undertaking a community asset transfer with allocated funding for repairs. However, both options present drawbacks, such as potential closure if returned to the county council or increased financial responsibility for repairs under a community asset transfer. Other options mentioned involved community volunteer support, building custom new toilets, or maintaining the current operation despite risks of further deterioration.
Residents will now have the opportunity to participate in a six-week consultation period to express their preference for keeping the toilets open or closed. The results of the consultation will be deliberated by the town council in the upcoming months, shaping the future of the historic public facility in Porthcawl.
(Source: Wales Online)