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Tourism fears over public toilet closures

BBC Councillor Hugh Hughes stands in front of public toilets in Borth, Ceredigion.BBC
Hugh Hughes is concerned that losing one or both toilets would have an impact on the status of the beach

Public toilets in Ceredigion could close sparking fears over loss of tourism to the area.

Ceredigion council is seeking to hand over responsibility for 33 toilets across the county to save hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Local people say it would be a huge blow to their communities - and in some coastal towns they are essential for maintaining "blue flag" status - awarded to clean and high quality beaches.

But Ceredigion council says there’s a deficit of more than £200,000 a year between the cost of running toilets and the income they make.

Aberaeron town council has said it will not take on the four toilets in the town due to the costs involved.

But the community council in Borth says in principle it would be prepared to take on the responsibility – but that keeping them open would have to be viable without excessive tax hikes.

An image of a public toilet block in Ceredigion on a coastline. In the background, there is a beach that is out of sight.
Ceredigion council wants to hand over responsibility for toilets across the county to cut costs

Hugh Hughes, who represents Borth on Ceredigion council, said: "We're talking about quite a sizeable amount of money to run both sets of toilets all year round."

Borth is one of four beaches in Ceredigion that have been awarded blue flag status in 2024.

The criteria for a blue flag beach include having "an adequate number of toilets".

"First and foremost, we are concerned that should the toilets close, our blue flag status for Borth beach would be at risk, which will have an impact on our tourist industry," Mr Hughes said.

Filippo Sottovia stands outside the restaurant where he works. You can see the front of the Deli Lazzaro restaurant, in Aberaeron town centre, in the background.
Hospitality worker Filippo Sottovia says more customers using their toilets would be a "bit of a problem"

At Deli Lazzarotre, in Aberaeron town centre, some members of the public are already asking to use the toilets and any increase could be a problem, says Filippo Sottovia who works there.

“Especially during busy times because it’s a small cafe," he said.

"A queue just outside the toilet? That would be very awkward for us to walk around customers."

In a statement, Ceredigion council said due to budget pressures the department that provides the toilet facilities "has been challenged".

It added that if "support isn't forthcoming" the council will have to consider closing public toilets.