Consultation over spending a penny in Powys

Powys County Council has put its draft local toilet strategy out to consultation and wants local people to give their views on the 'convenience' of public loos.

In recent years the unitary authority has transferred 56 public conveniences to other organisations, from community groups and private businesses to town and community councils, with five closing.

It currently owns and maintains two public conveniences at the Brecon and Ystradgynlais Transport Interchanges.

The British Toilet Association estimates that 40 per of the UK's toilets have closed in the last 10 years.

Powys says that while it has powers to provide them the provision of public conveniences is not a statutory duty and limited funding and pressures mean it faces a challenge to maintain toilet provision.

It says that the development of the Draft Powys Local Toilet Strategy will ensure a strategic view is taken to providing publicly accessible toilets where they are needed the most in Powys.

The draft strategy says that it will ensure that residents and visitors alike are able to enjoy centres and outdoor spaces and that high quality public toilets will encourage repeat visits from tourists.

"The historic role of Powys County Council in providing public conveniences has become less imperative with the provision of toilet facilities in private businesses, for example cafes, supermarkets, public houses, which has reduced the demand for other facilities," the draft document says.

Last year the council installed portable loos and urinals in Builth Wells during the Royal Welsh Show.

A survey of public toilet users showed that the main grips were poor condition, baby changing facilities only located in the female toilets a lack of adult facilities including items like hoists and space to change as well a a shelf and hooks to hang a colostomy bag.

Many of the respondents said that an interactive map showing all the public toilets in Powys would be something they would use.

The future strategy includes looking at opening more council office toilets to the public, giving grants for special Changing Spaces toilets, discussions with Transport for Wales for more toilets at transport hubs and insisting the public toilets be included at major development sites.