City council wants to shut 11 public loos (From Oxford Mail)

City council wants to shut 11 public loos

6:50am Saturday 27th June 2009 in

By Tom Shepherd »

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NEARLY half of Oxford’s public loos are facing closure this winter as part of plans to save £50,000 a year.

Oxford City Council is planning to launch a two-month consultation into proposals to close up to 11 of the city’s 27 facilities.

Its executive board is meeting on Wednesday to discuss the move.

As part of its plan, the council is looking to spend up to £500,000 upgrading facilities at Gloucester Green in the city centre and charging users between 20p and 50p.

People could be charged at some other toilets as well.

It is also looking at introducing a community toilet scheme – where local businesses open their toilets to the public – and carrying out minor refurbishments to a number of other facilities.

Public loos in Castle Street, Magdalen Street, St Giles’, Woodstock Road, South Parade, Barns Road, Littlemore, Knights Road and Headington Hill are all under threat. The toilets would be demolished with sites being sold off.

Plans are also afoot to close public toilets in Abingdon Road and Wolvercote during the winter.

City councillor John Tanner, executive board member for a cleaner, greener Oxford, said: “Because the council is strapped for cash, we are looking to make savings in every area.

“We want to ask the public about a package of proposals to close some public toilets and improve the quality of others. We want to know what residents, students and tourists think before we make any decisions.

“I think a comfortable, quality toilet at Gloucester Green, closing the Castle Street loo, introducing a community toilet scheme, and maybe charging for some toilets, makes sense.

“We will save taxpayers’ money and make spending a penny in Oxford a more enjoyable experience.”

In a report to councillors, Philip Dunsdon, of the city council’s city works department, said many of Oxford’s public loos were “underused, abused, neglected and attracted vandalism and antisocial behaviour”.

Problems including graffiti, drugs and rough sleeping, and at least 13 toilets needed major refurbishment.

Liberal Democrat group opposition leader David Rundle agreed public loos in the city needed to be upgraded, but he said he had serious concerns over the extent of the proposed closures.

He said: “We don’t want to see Oxford’s loos going down the pan, but it seems to me the cuts outweigh the gains in this report. We need an engaging and strategic consultation – major changes must not be pushed through without a proper debate.”

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gerry Web said the loss of the rundown facilities in Knights Road, Blackbird Leys would be unacceptable.

He said: “I don’t use the facilities in Knights Road myself because I am severely disabled, but I am very concerned.

“Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys are very big and they are the only public toilets near the shops.

“They need to find a way to make the premises secure rather than taking a public service away from people.”

Tony Joyce, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said he felt the report was “fairly sensible” but criticised the council for holding a consultation in the summer.

He also criticised the idea of permanently closing toilets in St Giles’ and Magdalen Street, saying the city centre needed plenty of toilets, open for longer, not closed.

Tell us what you think, ring the newsdesk on 01865 425500 or email news@oxfordmail.co.uk

Comments(27)

Sophia says...
7:20am Sat 27 Jun 09

Oxford Council couldnt organise a **** up in a brewery or, it transpires, a **** in a loo.