Council may no longer run public toilets in Devon towns under £250k savings plan

A Devon council is aiming to save around a quarter of a million pounds a year by changing the way it caters for people spending a penny.

Teignbridge councillors will consider plans for the future of its public toilets when it meets next week (July 29).

It has no plans to close any toilets at all, but is likely to offer local town or parish councils the chance to take them over. By law, district councils do not have to provide any toilets at all, but do so on a ‘discretionary basis’.

Cllr Peter Williams (Lib Dem, Teignmouth East), the council’s executive member for environmental services, said: “This has been a difficult but necessary process.

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“We’ve listened carefully to feedback and are committed to working with local councils and communities to keep as many facilities open as possible. However, we must also ensure that our services are financially sustainable for the future.”

More than 5,500 people took part in the public consultation last winter.

At next week’s meeting, members will be discussing the council’s Modern 25 transformation programme, which aims to save £2.6 million a year by April 2027. The programme identified public toilets as an area where the council spends a lot and could make savings.

Handing over control of the district council’s 22 public toilets could save £250,000 a year. The council says it spends more on toilets than comparable local and national authorities.

A statement said: “The aim of the review is not to close toilets, but to work closely with town and parish councils to maintain provision and, where possible, transfer the management of toilets to them.”

There are already existing successful models of public conveniences within Teignbridge being provided by town and parish councils in places including Abbotskerswell, Bishopsteignton, Bovey Tracey, Christow, Exminster, Ipplepen, Kingskerswell, Teignmouth and Ogwell.