FOI request (FOIR-588658612)

Public Toilets

Requested Wed 21 February 2024
Responded Thu 29 February 2024

I am writing to you under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request information regarding public toilets in your council area.

I would like to request all available information regarding the number of operational public toilets, and the opening hours of those toilets, operated by or contracted on behalf of the council over each of the past five years (2019 to 2024, up to and inclusive of 16th February 2024).

I would also like to request all available information regarding the frequency of public toilet cleaning for those toilets over the same period.

Response

2019 - 2024 = 17 toilets - No actual closures, only temporary ones due to vandalism.

In 2019 all facilities were cleaned twice per day. Attended sites which have on-site staff were cleaned throughout the day.

Following the guidance from the UK government regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was made to close all public toilets across the town from the 24th March 2020.

From 21st June 2020 toilets were reopened with guidance and warning signs on safe use, apart from toilets with on-site attendants the facilities were cleaned every 2 hours.

From October 2020 toilets were cleaned again twice per day as per normal duties with additional resources and public education due to COVID-19.

From April 2021 to date, the same process of twice daily cleans have been in place.