Cllr Xena Dion, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Consumer Protection Services and Streetscene who work to maintain public toilets, has been working with officers to progress the Community Toilet Scheme across Poole.
This scheme brings better choice in toilets to residents by working with local businesses, shops and other owners of premises to encourage them to open their toilets for public use, regardless of whether or not people are paying customers.
The scheme, explained by Cllr Dion 'provides benefits to both sides. Participating businesses receive a fee from the council to cover their costs and will feature on the Borough’s website, which gives them additional promotion, whilst local residents have greater choice of toilets which they know will be safe, well maintained and clean'.
The toilets in prospective premises are always inspected before being included in the scheme to ensure they are fit for purpose and meet the standards for accessibility for people with additional needs, such as wheelchair access.
Many of the existing public toilet buildings, including those in Blandford Road and Jubilee Road, are ageing and in poor condition. The cost of carrying out refurbishment works to all toilets over the next 10 years has been estimated at £1.3 million.
Businesses signing up to the scheme will display the ‘use our loo’ sticker in their window to show which facilities are available.
So far, in Blandford Road, Hamworthy Library, the Red Lion and The Adams Practice have all joined up. In Ashley Road Rosina's café, Waitrose, Oswald Bailey and Victoria Cross have all joined the scheme, which is proving popular in other areas, such as Broadstone where it has been in operation for several months.
Cllr. Xena Dion, Penn Hill Ward.
Portfolio Holder for a Prosperous and Sustainable Poole, Culture and Learning and Consumer Protection.