Public toilets decision
Plans to reduce the number of council
public toilets in Ashford by 2013 have been approved - but with
some key amendments.
On Thursday 8th December, Ashford Borough Council’s cabinet
approved plans that will save around £200,000 of taxpayers’ money
by reducing its supply of public toilets in the borough, but has
agreed to keep key town centre facilities at New Rents open.
The proposals to reduce the number of council run conveniences were
based on feedback from Ashford residents during last year’s
consultations on how best to make budget savings in the face of the
national economic downturn.
During the online Simalto consultation – where the public
‘spent’ a draft budget and chose what services to keep, cut or
enhance - participants elected to transfer the borough’s
public conveniences management or, if this was not possible, close
them.
The outline plans were publicised in the local press and Ashford
Voice residents’ magazine in February.
The proposals will see a number of public conveniences either
transferred to parish or town council management, or closed in 2013
if no alternative is possible.
Portfolio holder for Environment Cllr Jessamy Blanford said: “These
proposals were based on feedback from residents on how we could
save taxpayers’ money, but it is not a case of closing the door to
our public toilets and throwing away the key.
“We have excellent visitor toilets at Ashford Gateway Plus, which
the public is free to use, and there are also facilities in Park
Mall, County Square and St Mary’s Church, in addition to the
various local business with customer toilets.
“At a time when financial savings must be made, tough decisions
also need to be made, but we have good quality alternatives
available in the borough, and we hope that parish and town councils
and local business will help to ensure the public can access the
many alternative toilets already widely available."
The council manages seven public toilets in Ashford town - New
Rents, Vicarage Lane, Bybrook Cemetary and Victoria Park, plus
three automatic public conveniences (APC).
The cabinet agreed to shut all APCs, as they are little used and do
not represent good value for money for the public or the
council.
Bybrook Cemetery conveniences will also close, and signs to
alternative toilets at local toilets will be displayed.
A proposal to close the New Rents toilets was removed and these
conveniences will now stay open, as they are well used and the
cabinet recognised the important social and economic contribution
their associated footfall brings to the town.
There are no plans to close Vicarage Lane and Victoria Park
toilets. In addition, the council manages three toilets in
Tenterden and six in rural locations.
These toilets will close from March 2013, but the council is keen
to negotiate with Tenterden Town Council and the various parish
councils to see if the sites can be handed over to their
management.
The cabinet agreed that more signs to alternative toilets would be
needed in locations where old conveniences had closed, and there
would need to be discussions with local businesses about the use of
their toilets by the public and putting suitable signposting in
place.
Media release 0274/11
13/12/2011
For more information, please contact our Press Office on 01233
330719 or email sinead.mason@ashford.gov.uk
This webpage was updated on
12/13/2011