Scarborough Council Cabinet to review £1.1m investment strategy for public toilets

At the meeting on February 11, the cabinet will be asked to review and agree a new draft strategy, which sets out plans to invest £1.1m during the next two years in improving public toilets throughout the borough, with a further £700,000 proposed for upgrades and refurbishment by 2030.

The investment, which is aligned to the new Building a Better Borough programme, would allow the council to achieve a high standard of toilets that would be accessible, safe, well used and sustainable, both environmentally and financially.

Cllr Steve Siddons, Leader of Scarborough Borough Council said: “As part of our commitment to Building a Better Borough and getting our essential services right, we promised we would improve the provision of public toilets throughout the borough for our residents and visitors. The report sets out how we plan to achieve that.

“The strategy has already been reviewed and welcomed by our Overview and Scrutiny Board and at the next Full Council there is an opportunity for wider member input as part of the budget setting process.”

The location of toilets within main tourist areas would also be reviewed to ensure that there are no places more than 400 metres from a publicly accessible toilet.

Changing Places toilets - which provide people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and physical disabilities the extra equipment and space they need to allow them to use toilets safely and comfortably -would also be included.

The initial £1.1 investment in the toilets, which is spread across facilities in different parts of the borough that are in need of the most improvement, would be completed within one to two years.

If the recommendations in the report are agreed by Cabinet, the proposed investment will be included in the final budget report, which is due to go to Full Council on February 28 for debate and approval.