• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
18 June, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Plans to charge 30p to spend a penny in public loos back on the table

by Jo Wadsworth
Wednesday 10 Oct, 2018 at 1:28PM
A A
5
Public could be charged for spending a penny

Toilets at Peter Pan's playground in Madeira Drive

Toilets at Peter Pan’s playground on Madeira Drive

A charge for using public toilets is back on the cards three months after councillors rejected the idea.

In July, Green and Conservative members of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Policy, Resources and Growth Committee voted down proposals to charge people 30p to spend a penny.

But Labour leader Councillor Daniel Yates told the committee at the time that it would not be possible to refurbish any toilets with the money that the council had set aside.

He said: “We do not want to be putting ourselves in a financial black hole.

“What we’re getting for our money may not be affordable.”

The council has budgeted £550,000 in its capital investment programme to refurbish rundown toilets.

However, a further £602,000 is needed from the council’s new public toilets contractor Healthmatic to make it happen.

Councillor Yates asked for a report to sort out the issue “in a better way”.

A new report going before the committee on Thursday 11 October said that the contract to manage the council’s public toilets includes the right to charge at 11 sites.

It said: “Charging is the most effective way of offsetting budget pressures and to generate income and thus improve the service and standards of existing public toilets.

“With the introduction of a 30p charge, footfall is predicted to drop. However, initial financial projections by Healthmatic have indicated that income generation to the council could be as much as £70,678 in the first full year of operation.”

The contracts were awarded to Healthmatic after a tendering process in February last year, as the company committed to invest £602,000 in refurbishing the loos.

The funding will be combined to refurbish at least 12 toilets – at Black Rock, Goldstone Villas, Hove Lagoon, the King Alfred, King’s Esplanade, Lower Promenade East, Lower Promenade West, Peter Pan’s Playground, Royal Pavilion Gardens, the Colonnade, West Pier Arches (where charging is already in place) and Western Esplanade.

The investment programme is due to start in the winter of 2018-19 when demand tends to be lower.

And the Royal Pavilion Gardens toilets are highlighted as a priority site.

Work is expected to be completed by March 2020

Conservative councillor Gary Peltzer Dunn spoke against the plans at the July meeting.

He said: “These charges could bring about a decline in the immediate areas.

“People taken short going in the bushes is unpleasant but is something that could happen.”

Green councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty questioned the level of consultation with people suffering from Crohns, colitus, some cancers and older people.

He said: “They are going to be the ones at the front end of this problem.

“Radar cards – some have such things. Many of them do not.”

Councillors are advised to approve 30p charges and set in motion the refurbishment project on Thursday when they are due to meet.

The committee starts at 4pm at Hove Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public.

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Comments 5

  1. Chris says:
    7 years ago

    Is there any significance to the bin being the main focus of the picture? Will it be fitted with a coin slot?

    Reply
  2. A L Brighton says:
    7 years ago

    At a time when actual cash use is declining, it is surely wrong to be introducing the requirement for coins to go to the toilet.

    What a strange thing to do and it will only end up with elderly, young, disabled and ill people wetting themselves in public to great embarrassment.

    Reply
    • Matthew Curtis says:
      7 years ago

      I totally argree with you, has I’m young and disabled my self. I think it’s horrible.

      Reply
  3. Jim says:
    7 years ago

    Charging to use toilets is never the answer.
    Use will decline and urinating in the close vicinity will increase.
    Going to the toilet is a public requirement and should fall firmly under the remit of the council and be funded publicly but not at point of use. They need to increase how much they are willing to set aside for it.

    If it does go ahead it should at least be fitted with contactless payment and well trained attendants who are given the power and trust to allow free use dependant on the user and situation.

    Allowing a company to come up with projected income which is the same company bidding for the contract is typical of local and central government madness.
    It will go the same as the other government contracts, inflated projections which never happen, reduced investment, reduced opening times, faulty equipment etc etc.

    Excuse the pun but I will not enjoy watching this contract go down the pan.

    Reply
  4. Rostrum says:
    7 years ago

    I’m always amazed at how well run Eastbourne is, with no front line service cuts, no public toilet charges, clean streets and well managed ‘street community’ policy versus the total chaos of our own cit…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Brighton hotel owner owes council almost £1m

New Hove seafront cycle lane plans unveiled

Council joint venture buys land for hundreds of new homes

Late-licence refusal amounts to discrimination, says business owner

Road layout changes leave language school boss in fear for pupils’ safety

Gas main damaged during Spiegelgarden take-down

Plans to charge 30p to spend a penny in public loos back on the table

Former teacher honoured by King

Tug of war protest highlights plight of Brighton doctors’ surgery, say campaigners

Benefits changes could push thousands into poverty, councillors fear

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Goth-Pop act Vision Video highlight ‘Modern Horror’

Goth-Pop act Vision Video highlight ‘Modern Horror’

17 June 2025
Oh! Darling – in Brighton for one night only

Oh! Darling – in Brighton for one night only

17 June 2025
The Mullet Monster Mafia play first ever Brighton gig!

The Mullet Monster Mafia play first ever Brighton gig!

16 June 2025
Top Left Club staying sick as ever!

Top Left Club staying sick as ever!

15 June 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Brighton and Hove Albion sign Italy international

Brighton and Hove Albion sign Italy international

by Frank le Duc
17 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have signed a 21-year-old Italy international to add to the Seagulls’ defensive options. Diego Coppola has...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Sussex Sharks stay top of their group with T20 triumph at Glamorgan

by Blake Bint - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
14 June 2025
0

Glamorgan 172 (18.5 overs) Sussex 199-7 (20 overs) Sussex won by 27 runs. Sussex 4 points, Glamorgan 0 points. Sussex...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Rain saves Sussex Sharks in T20 against Essex at Hove

by Adrian Colley
13 June 2025
0

Sussex 23-3 (3.1 overs) Essex 177-4 (17 overs) No result Essex’s hopes of claiming their first win of the season...

Brighton and Hove Albion announce Kostoulas signing

Brighton and Hove Albion announce Kostoulas signing

by Frank le Duc
12 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have announced the signing of 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas from Greek champions Olympiacos on a five-year...

Load More
October 2018
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Sep   Nov »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Hospital trust agrees six-figure payout after seven-year battle over traumatic birth 17 June 2025
  • CPS drops rape case against Sussex Police officer 17 June 2025
  • Female teacher sexually abused schoolgirl 16 June 2025
  • Bungalow owner aims to build nine homes on village plot 16 June 2025
  • Boy, 12, taken to hospital after hit and run 16 June 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News