The future of the public toilets in our District remains uncertain. At their meeting last week, the cabinet agreed that:
“BY JANUARY 2012, OFFICERS DEVELOP A PUBLIC TOILET STRATEGY FOR THE DISTRICT IN ORDER TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF POSSIBLE CLOSURES. THIS TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR EACH SITE”
In Rayleigh, it’s possible that Rayleigh Town Council could take over the Crown Hill toilets. But they would probably have to raise their council tax to do so. Similar situations would occur elsewhere , such as in Hullbridge.
Once the strategy is produced at least they will have something to go on….as for minimising the impact I can only imagine…free incontinence pants ?
Hopefully the strategy will avoid public relations disasters like this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2056989/Mayor-councillors-caught-urinating-bushes-approving-closure-public-toilets.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
An HRA member has written to me to say:
“Clearly those making this decision did not have that much used word HEALTH and safety in mind; neither can they need the facilities as so many of us older folk do. For a start, my wife and I shall not be able to go to Rayleigh for shopping by bus ( we don’t all have cars to nip home for a toilet) and a visit the the Crown Toilet, believe me, is vital”
Has anyone considered the impact on shopping in Rayleigh?
The District Council believes that there won’t be a problem if Rayleigh Town Council agree to take them over. But Rayleigh Town Council haven’t agreed to yet.
If the economies of scale of running more than one public convenience are lost with closures by RDC and then if the town council and the parishes were each to take these over without any economies of scale at a higher cost to the public then how would that be a sound decision?
Shifting cost from RDC to the parishes makes no saving at all. It is nonsense. And at a higher cost to the public overall would be plainly ridiculous.
Councillor John Mason
Just how much, in pounds, will closing toilets save RDC ?
Good question. Estimated costs for the last financial year for all the toilets were as follows:
Repairs, Alterations & Maintenance £11,300 (in the previous year it was only £4,434)
National Non Domestic Rates £4,800 (“business rates”)
Electricity £9,000
Water / Sewerage £6,700
Insurance £200
Contract Cleaning £ 70,800
Total £102,800
Plus some depreciation costs.
It would be intresting to know the number of Council Tax Payers in the district, as out of over £1000 of council tax a year, a pound or two to keep the toilets open is not too much.
Also, £4,800 of business rates would be lost to the Council
You’re right Ian, the cost per person is not high.
Regarding the ‘business rates’ . these are properly called national non-domestic rates and sadly the council doesn’t keep the money, it just collects it and sends it to central government, though I suppose we get some of it back in government grant.
Thats why councils sometimes try to get the rateable value of their properties reduced….
If the toilets at the top of Crown Hill close I will no longer shop in Rayleigh but will use the local supermarkets instead – Sainsburys and Asda. I have a two year old who when she needs the loo has to go right away.
The supermarkets provide most of what I need to buy and and have the benefit of a loo too. (Oh and free parking).
Very dissappointing that the council don’t recognise how valuable this service is to keeping people visiting the high street
Sara, thank you. Comments like yours are very useful for us when arguing the case that they must stay open.
Looks like a reprieve:
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/9497994.Change_of_heart_on_public_loo_closures/