Cabinet agrees proposals for future public toilets provision

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet has agreed proposals that will keep most public toilets in the county open, with the support of city, town and community councils.

At today’s Cabinet meeting, lead members acknowledged the operational costs of each public convenience in the county and considered the proposal for each facility in line with the confirmed position of each city, town and community council.

Since May this year the Council has undertaken further work with city, town and community councils to try and keep as many public toilets open as possible beyond 31st March 2026.

Although the Council recognises their importance, public toilets are a non-statutory service, and local authorities have no legal obligation to provide them. 

The money received by the council has not kept up with financial pressures and the increasing cost of delivering services, especially statutory services like social care and education.  There is therefore less money to spend on “Place-Making” services, like public toilets.

The Council has worked with city, town and community councils to find a sustainable model to fund and protect as many facilities as possible and cabinet members today acknowledged proposals for keeping most public toilets open thanks to this collaborative approach.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said, “We know and recognise that public toilets are a valued facility by our residents in Denbighshire. Since May we have gone back out to talk to all relevant city, town and community councils in an open and transparent way to find a collaborative way to keep these facilities open.

“I want to thank the town and community councils for their positive energy and collaboration that has helped us reach the position where we can now keep most of our public toilets open”.

Full details of the proposals put before Cabinet are available here