Wrexham’s Public Toilets Consultation To Close This Week

Wrexhamites are being encouraged to have their say on the introduction of a fee to use some of the town’s public toilets, with a public consultation ending this Friday. 

In December Wrexham.com reported that a public consultation had been launched regarding the future of Wrexham’s public toilets; including the closure of Waterworld car park toilets, and the upgrading of facilities on Henblas Street.

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.

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.

Speaking last week at January’s Town Centre Forum Meeting, Council Leader Mark Pritchard said: “We are looking to refurbish all the toilets in the town centre.

“I have no problem with charging 20 pence, it’s about improving the quality of standards in the town. We want it to be managed properly and have people know they are safe.”

In total five proposals have been 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 once 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.

However the proposals to introduce a fee to use the facilities were met with opposition from Eagles Meadow Manager, Kevin Critchley who said he was ‘scared it will give a negative impression’. Mr Critchely added: “I agree with refurbishing, I don;t agree with charging and I am sure it is free to pee in Mold.”

When we first covered the consultation our story nearly 60 comments on our Facebook thread (viewed here), with feedback ranging from people being in support of the introduction of a fee, to others strongly against the proposals.

Councillor Carole O’Toole spoke in support of the proposals at Tuesday’s Forum meeting, stating: “It is important that when going to visit a town, that you know without looking for a clean toilet in a shop that you can find it in a public place. It is worth 20p to know you are safe.”

The consultation on the proposals 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.

If would like your say on the proposed changes to Wrexham’s public toilets / the introduction of a fee to use the facilities, then you can take part in the survey here. The consultation is available to take part in until Friday 16th January.