Public to get say on Oxford loo closures - but Price vows only 'two or three' will have to close (From Oxford Mail)

Public to get say on Oxford loo closures - but Price vows only 'two or three' will have to close

7:19pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

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COUNCIL leaders today ordered a two-month consultation into plans to overhaul the provision of public loos in the city.

Eleven of Oxford’s 27 public loos are under threat of closure as part of plans to save £50,000 a year.

Facilities in Castle Street, Magdalen Street, St Giles, Woodstock Road, South Parade, Barns Road, Littlemore, Knights Road and Headington Hill are all in the firing line.

However, at a meeting of the council’s executive, council leader Bob Price said he only expected to have to close “two or three” toilets to make the necessary savings.

Mr Price said: “We’re trying to get as much feedback about what people think of the facilities.”

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

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

John Tanner, executive member for a cleaner, greener Oxford, said: “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.

A decision about which, if any, toilets will be closed is due to take place in September.

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