Public toilet closures

Responding to reports that Anglesey and Powys County Councils are closing some of their already limited numbers of public toilets, Age Cymru's Campaign Co-ordinator Rhea Stevens says:

"Public toilets are a lifeline for older people, and are vital in ensuring that people retain their dignity and the confidence to participate in community life.

"Poor public toilet provision has a significant impact upon many older people as it reduces their ability to remain active and restricts how often, and for how long, they are able to leave their homes.

"Age Cymru understands that these planned closures are part of a cost-cutting exercise, driven by the current economic climate. Local authorities face difficult challenges when managing upcoming budget cuts and we are concerned that this will lead to further closures of public toilets unless direct action is taken.

"Age Cymru feels strongly the long-term survival of Wales' network of public toilets must be secured and that the buck has to stop somewhere - this is why we are supporting the Welsh Senate of Older People's P is for People campaign for a statutory duty to be placed on local authorities to provide clean and accessible public toilets where they are needed.

"The Welsh Government and local authorities must continue to work together to protect public toilets for the benefit of communities across Wales."