Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has said that Welsh Ministers need to provide local authorities with straight answers, regarding future grant support for the maintenance of public toilets in Wales.
The issue has emerged when a number of Town and Community Councils wrote to the AM with concerns about Powys County Council’s future strategy for the provision of public conveniences throughout Powys. The authority is looking to rationalise the provision of public conveniences because it is strapped for cash and is asking Community Councils to take on their running.
Currently, public toilet facilities are provided through six main streams where some element of public funding is provided. Where toilets are situated alongside or near trunk roads, they receive Welsh Government support, even if they are owned by the local authority. Private facilities have also been supported through the Welsh Government’s Public Facilities (Community Toilets) Grant Scheme, however the long-term future of Welsh Government support is in doubt after the end of this financial year.
Community Councils including, Caersws, Llanbrynmair and Llangynog, are worried that they would be forced to take on the maintenance of public conveniences in their areas without any additional support from either Powys Council or Welsh Government.
Mr George took the opportunity during this week’s (25 Sept) Assembly questions to ask the Local Government Minister, Lesley Griffiths AM, what future commitment was she prepared to provide to local authorities to help them maintain public toilets.
The Minister said that grant funding would be examined during upcoming budget negotiations but that public facilities provision was primarily a matter for local authorities to determine.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“I am disappointed with the Minister’s remarks.
“The fact is local authorities like Powys do rely on central government funding to maintain a number of public toilets in Montgomeryshire.
“It is disingenuous for the Minister to say it is a matter for local authorities to make those long-term decisions, when they do not know if they are going to receive any support to maintain these services going forward; they want clarity to plan accordingly.
“There may be a number of Town and Community Councils who may well be in a position to come to an arrangement with Powys Council to take on the provision and maintenance of local public toilets in the future.
“However, I am concerned that the majority will not be in a position to do that unless they are guaranteed continued funding support.
“They should not have the responsibility forced upon them without that funding because it will inevitably lead to the detriment of these vital services.
“I will continue to put pressure on Welsh Minister’s to get a more detailed response.”
