Yorkshire council considers public toilet charge

Richmondshire Council is considering plans to introduce charges at all of its public toilets to help raise cash to maintain the facilities.

The authority has 14 public toilets across the district that were visited almost one million times in the last year.

The council estimates introducing the 20p charge would generate around £197,000 a year for the authority.

It currently costs the council around £132,000 to maintain the 14 sites and is looking for ways to save money as, in common with authorities across Yorkshire, it sees the amount of funding it receives from the Government fall.

A report to be debated by councillors next week warns that vandalism caused by thieves trying to steal the money from machines installed at the toilets and the possiblity that charges will put off people from using them could cut the sum raised every year to just £33,500.

However it says that “this still represents a new income stream which the Council currently does not benefit from and still makes a significant contribution to the savings needed”.

The council will trial the idea over six months at Nuns Close, Richmond, Middleham and Langthwaite.