WILTSHIRE Council has announced that it will no longer fund the upkeep of public toilets, and has set up a survey to ask people how they would like to see them run.
The council is being forced to make further budget cuts in the coming year, and it was recently revealed that public conveniences – which the authority does not have to provide – would have to be paid for by other councils, groups or organisations.
Closing toilet facilities has not been ruled out if no other organisation agrees to take them on. There are three public toilets in Westbury that would be affected; on Warminster Road, High Street, and at the cemetery.
Mayor of Westbury, cllr David Bradshaw said, “The toilets are an important service and I think people would be severely disappointed if they were taken away.
“If Wiltshire Council wants to hand the town council responsibility for the public toilets, I will do everything in my power to keep them open and maintained, and I’m sure the town council will support me.
“It’s not something the town council currently has a budget for, but I will endeavour to help find a way to keep the services available for the people of Westbury.”
The announcement came as the council revealed their online ‘Public conveniences survey’, which seeks people’s views on how the services should be provided in the future. The survey says: “One of the services under review for 2015/16 is the public convenience service. Councils do not have a statutory duty to provide public conveniences.
“Many town and parish councils already provide the public convenience service in their area. In some areas supermarkets and shops are open to the public to use, often with longer opening hours.
“The cost of providing the service, the cleaning, maintenance and repair as well as effects of vandalism and graffiti mean that Wiltshire Council can no longer fund the service.
“This will mean that certain facilities currently run by Wiltshire Council will be transferred, sold or given to other organisations or groups that may be able to run the facilities themselves. If this is unsuccessful these facilities will close.”
The survey is being held on Wiltshire Council’s website, and invites residents, councils and organisations to comment on how they think the service should be delivered in future.
To take part, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/publicconveniencessurvey
