Agenda item

A report was presented regarding options for the future provision of public conveniences throughout the District. This explained that the Council operated facilities at twelve sites but that the equipment (e.g. lavatories, sinks, hand driers) was approximately twenty years old and no longer serviced by manufacturers. The 2021/22 capital and revenue budgets were £550,000 and £94,030 respectively. 

The report confirmed that the provision of public conveniences was not a statutory service and concluded that current maintenance costs were unsustainable. The Asset Management Team had therefore been asked to lead a review of the facilities with assistance from Operational Services. An initial desktop review was attached to the report with a commentary about the suitability of the twelve sites. This suggested that facilities at several locations were, for various reasons, no longer viable and that further discussions were required with local communities and businesses regarding longer term options. However, the two facilities on the A25 at Nags Hall, Oxted and the A22 at Godstone Hill (both on land owned by Surrey County Council) were recommended for immediate removal. The Nags Hall facility had remained closed since the 21^st October 2021 for safety reasons arising from disrepair and both sites were known to attract anti-social activities / behaviour.

Upon debating the matter, the Committee accepted the recommendation to close the A25 (Nags Hall) facilities but argued that those on the A22 (Godstone Hill) should remain open until the need for any repairs made it financially unviable for the Council to maintain them. The need to provide adequate WC’s for lorry drivers was cited as a key reason for this, notwithstanding the proximity of the Clacket Lane service station on the M25. It was also suggested that, in view of the income received by Surrey County Council (SCC) from mobile catering vendors on the A22 site, SCC should pay for the provision and maintenance of any replacement toilet facilities at that location.

Members also argued for the retention of toilet facilities at other locations, including where sites were adjacent to bus stops / termini. It was agreed that a more comprehensive review of the sites should be undertaken, including the scope for:

·      design features seeking user safety and disabled access

·      pay per use options

·      partnership options involving alternative funding sources (although some Members doubted whether Parish Councils would be willing / able to take responsibility for WC facilities)

·      seeking Community Infrastructure Levy funding (although Officers advised that CIL could not be used to offset revenue costs)

·      reassessing the demand for facilities at the respective sites with a view to providing a more robust evidence base for any proposed closures.

          R E S O L V E D – that:

A.        the toilet facilities at the A25 layby in Oxted be closed and removed;

B.        the A22 Godstone Hill facilities remain open until such time as the need for any repairs will make it financially unviable for TDC to continue to do so and that, in the meantime, dialogue be established with Surrey County Council regarding the possibility of them (SCC) providing replacement WC facilities on the site and taking responsibility for their ongoing maintenance and repair at no cost to TDC;

C.        refurbishment works at the toilet facilities at Ellice Road, Oxted be procured and that improvements to facilities at Queens Park and Whyteleafe Recreation Ground be taken forward in conjunction with the Open Space Strategy Action Plan;

D.        regarding toilet facilities at other sites:

(i)     consideration be given to a reduction in the provision of facilities, while exploring opportunities for alternative methods of service delivery in consultation with Surrey County Council, Parish Councils and local businesses; and

(ii)    no decision to change the management arrangements or to close any facilities be taken without the approval of this Committee following consideration of a report to a future meeting.