Whitby public toilets could return to council control under new plans
Public toilets in Whitby could be brought back into council control as soon as next summer after years of losses, councillors have said.
Whitby Town Council is considering bringing its public toilets back under direct control as part of a plan to save money, improve standards and give the authority greater control over a service that has struggled financially for years.
The authority, which operates public toilets at New Quay Road, Pier Road, West Cliff, Abbey Headland, Market Place and Ruswarp, has backed the development of an in-house operating model as its preferred option when the current management contract expires in July 2027.
Councillors heard that direct service provision could offer financial advantages over continuing with an externally managed contract, while also providing greater operational control and opportunities to improve service standards.
The move comes little more than a year after a council review concluded the town’s toilets had become a drain on the authority’s finances despite generating annual income of between £179,000 and £228,000.
That review found the council had spent £85,923 more than it received from the facilities between 2018 and 2024 and concluded the toilets had “never made a profit” and had “never been cost neutral”.
At a meeting this week, councillors were told preliminary financial analysis suggested running the facilities in-house could offer benefits over extending or retendering the current arrangement.
Members also approved a £24,545 survey programme covering the council’s six public toilet blocks at New Quay Road, Pier Road, West Cliff, Abbey Headland, Market Place and Ruswarp, alongside other council-owned properties.
The work will include measured building surveys, condition surveys and asbestos assessments designed to establish the condition of the buildings and help inform future investment decisions.
Councillors heard that significant capital investment would be required to refurbish and modernise the toilets regardless of whether they continued to be managed by an external contractor or were brought back under direct council control.
The authority previously identified a range of improvements that could be required, including repairs to the West Cliff and New Quay Road facilities, upgrades to payment systems, measures to tackle fare evasion and alterations to flushing systems aimed at reducing water consumption.
Members agreed that a detailed business case should now be prepared examining the financial, operational and employment implications of an in-house model.
The proposed assessment will consider staffing requirements, operational arrangements, transition costs and service standards ahead of any final decision.
The council is also continuing discussions with North Yorkshire Council over wider public toilet provision in Whitby and any future opportunities that may arise.