Bristol’s community toilet scheme: Fundamentally flawed or full of potential?

Bristol’s Labour administration has defended the city’s community toilet scheme after opposition councillors and campaigners slammed it as “fundamentally flawed”.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for public toilets to be reopened following sweeping closures in 2018.

Campaigners say it’s an issue of equality and dignity, as well as a public health matter, and 12 organisations signed an open letter demanding seven of the city’s public toilets are reopened.

Speaking at a full council meeting on Tuesday, Jenny Bartle, a Green councillor for Easton, argued the community toilet scheme – set up to replace closed facilities – has fundamental issues and that areas of Bristol are left with no accessible toilet options at all.

But the Labour administration has said the scheme has gained international recognition and has huge potential as members urged councillors to get behind the project and encourage more businesses to sign up.

Ellie King, the cabinet member for public health and communities, acknowledged the scheme needs “some development”, adding that council officers are currently working to identify gaps in provision and improve communication so people know how to access toilets in different parts of the city.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, mayor Marvin Rees confirmed a review of the scheme is underway and that more information on how and when it can be improved is due to be available in March this year.

The call to reinstate public toilets garnered many statements of support ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. Addressing the council chamber, Bartle said: “Access to public toilets impacts all sorts of demographics in a way that seriously affected their ability to engage in public life.”

The Green councillor outlined certain groups, including elderly, disabled, pregnant and homeless residents who are disproportionately affected by the lack of public toilets, adding: “The community toilet scheme was actually not a bad idea and I do think we should continue to try and get it to work as best we can, but there are a few fundamental issues with how it’s worked.”

King said the scheme was a positive solution that has seen more than 100 businesses sign up to open their toilets to the public without requiring a purchase.

“Many are less than a five-minute walk, often within one or two minutes of the closed toilets,” said King, adding: “Most of the closed toilets were in poor condition – one had even been burnt down – they would have required significant investment to bring them up to standard and of course ongoing maintenance.”

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Read more: Open letter demands public toilets are reopened in Bristol 

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Sarah Classick, a Lib Dem councillor for Hengrove & Whitchurch Park, argued that “reopening toilets according to local need could make a real impact on people’s ability to move about and enjoy the city”.

Rees said during a press briefing on Wednesday that the scheme is a good one.

He went on to say: “I guess the decision people make is, do they help invest in it and make it work? Or do they stand on a touchline and just point out his flaws? I think we stand much more chance of being a great city if we invest in it and try to make it work even if it’s not our first option.”

More details on the community toilet scheme are available via www.bristol.gov.uk/business-support-advice/join-the-community-toilet-scheme

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Read more: Call for review of Bristol’s community toilet scheme

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