Consultation Under Way For The Future Of Wrexham’s Public Toilets

Public toilets in Wrexham Town Centre could be upgraded and a charge to use some of the facilities could be introduced in the New Year.

Wrexham County Borough Council are responsible for five public toilet facilities, including toilets on Waterworld Car Park, Albion, Henblas Street, King Street Bus Station and the People’s Market.

Currently a consultation asking for the public’s views on proposed changes to Wrexham’s Town Centre facilities is underway, with members of the public encouraged to take part in a survey and voice their opinions.

In a letter circulated by Assets and Business Development Manager Peter Scott, it states: “Councils don’t have to provide public toilets and in a time of severe budget cuts many will be thinking about stopping this service. We don’t want to do that. Whilst we have to operate town centre toilets within the current budget provision, we want to try to improve the standard of public toilets to help Wrexham successfully compete with other towns and retail environments.

“But to do this without spending more money will mean reducing the opening hours of some toilets, and taking the difficult decision to close others.”

The consultation asks for views on the cleanliness of the town centre toilets, how the facilities compare to others elsewhere; whether or not the toilets feel like a safe environment and how much a person would be willing to pay to use the facilities.

Overall there are five proposals put forward, including the temporary closure of the public toilets at Henblas Street and upgrade them to provide modern female / male and disabled facilities. Currently the toilets have women only.

Once the refurbishment as Henblas Street toilets is complete it is proposed that the public toilets in the Waterworld car park are closed one the facilities at Henblas Street have been refurbished.

It is also proposed that the opening times at the Albion facilities are varied and a cleaner / attendant for the Henblas Street facilities is hired when the toilets reopen.

At present town centre toilet facilities are free to use, however a further proposal put forward recommended that a 20p charge is introduced for the use of the refurbished public toilets in the town.

If budgets allow, in subsequent years, King Street and Albion toilets will also be upgraded.

The letter carries onto state: “The intention is that no toilets will close or have reduced opening hours until the modernised facilities at Henblas Street open. Charging will only apply to refurbished facilities. If budgets allow, in subsequent years, King Street and Albion toilets will also be upgraded.”

You can have your say on the proposals on the Wrexham Council website here. The consultation will be up and running until January 16th 2015 – The Council’s Executive Board will then consider the options in their February meeting.