‘The day of the public toilet is over’

It’s not the most glamorous of topics, but the provision of public toilets is a vital necessity for many across Bristol.

A week after the council closed 18 facilities across the city, the alternative community-led scheme remains very much in its infancy, with businesses slowly signing up to allow access to their loos. People in the meantime are left fearing that they will get caught short.

But one neighbourhood is ahead of the curve, thanks largely to pioneering volunteer Ben Barker, the man behind The Toilet Map of Bedminster, which launched around seven years to address just this issue.

“I think the day of the public toilet is over, except for special cases,” he tells Bristol24/7. “The council should have gone for something like this years ago.

Amanda Ramsay and Ben Barker in the Southville Centre, working on a bid to make the neighbourhood age friendly

“The Bedminster Toilet Map project started about seven years ago. We formed an older people’s forum and one of the things that came up in the discussion was national research on access to toilets.

“Older people in particular, but also pregnant women and others, could become imprisoned in their homes because of no access to toilets – it’s a widespread, but invisible disability.

“There was not much access to toilets in Bedminster, so we decided we would create a map that pinpoints a number of places with publicly-accessible toilets. The idea was that wherever you were, you could go in and not feel you have to ask or buy something.”

The Toilet Map of Bedminster

The current map has 22 locations marked on it that are part of the community scheme and open for people to use the toilet.

In collaboration with some students from UWE Bristol, Ben conducted research that found most people do not feel comfortable going into a business to ask to use the toilet. The aim of the project was to break down some of the existing barriers.

The council has implemented a new community-led toilet scheme, but it is reliant on the goodwill of companies and organisations:

The study also found that most people would much rather use a toilet inside a business or organisation’s premises as they are usually cleaner and feel safer than public loos.

“Bristol itself has been very slow to cotton on to the idea,” continues Ben. “I remember saying to councillors, why don’t you encourage other communities in Bristol to do the same?

“I think it’s good business practice to make your shop and the area around it welcoming.”

Ben Barker is encouraging other communities to follow Bedminster’s lead

Ben was recently awarded an MBE for his 25 years of voluntary work to improve the community, but the retiree is not resting on his laurels and is busy working on the next project – to make Bristol the second age friendly city in the UK.

Bristol Ageing Better is leading the bid for the World Health Organisation accreditation, which recognises communities that strive to be age friendly – this can include access to public toilets, cafes or places to meet up , as well as an awareness of potential hazards to elderly or disabled people.

“Manchester is the only age friendly city in the UK, so our aim is to make Bristol the second one – there is a long way to go though,” says Ben.

“It’s our main project for this year and we are starting in the local community.”

Amanda Ramsey is also involved in the Age Friendly City project and says it takes a cross-generational approach to make communities truly inclusive.

Read more: D-day looms for Bristol’s public toilets