Bristol council reveals new toilet policy amid backlash over closures

24 October 2023 , 13:45

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The new public toilets in St Georges Park are next to the bowling green. Source: Bristol Live. Permission for use by all newswire partners (Image: Bristol Live)

Developers in Bristol will soon be required to include public toilets on the ground floors of large buildings. This new rule, part of Bristol City Council's Local Plan, is expected to be enforced by spring 2025.

The Bristol Labour group shared on X, previously known as Twitter : "All new major front-facing developments should have public toilets. This includes all developments with shops on the ground floor and flats above - a type of mixed use development we're promoting in Bristol."

Five years ago, the council controversially closed 18 public toilets across the city. However, a new scheme called the Community Toilet Scheme was introduced, allowing the public to use toilets in shops, cafes, pubs and other venues for free.

Last year, campaigners from Acorn, a community union, conducted research and discovered that most of the toilets didn't clearly indicate they were part of the scheme. Some even prevented the public from using their facilities unless they ordered something first.

The new draft Local Plan was recently unveiled, with a full council meeting scheduled for October 31. The councillors will vote on approving the draft before it goes to a full public consultation. By next year, the plan will be sent to the government's planning inspectors to review all the evidence. The final document is expected to be approved by the council in spring 2025.

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The new Local Plan policy on public toilets states: "Major developments that are open to the public should provide and secure the future management of free, publicly accessible toilets suitable for a range of users including disabled people, families with young children and people of all gender identities; and free 'Changing Places' toilets."

"Toilets and changing facilities provided should be clearly identifiable and located at readily accessible parts of the development which facilitate public access. This policy is also applicable to major developments outside centres where they are open to the public. The policy expects provision to be located where it enables access and does not deter use."

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Alex Seabrook