Cancer patient calls new toilet fee 'extortionate'

A cancer patient has criticised Nottingham City Council for what he has called an "absolutely ridiculous" decision to introduce charges to use a public toilet.

Roger Coonie, 78, who has prostate cancer, said the Greyhound Street facilities in the city centre could only be accessed with a bank card payment and would be difficult to access quickly as a result.

The council said it introduced the 50p fee due to vandalism at the toilets and the costs of repairs.

Mr Coonie said: "I think it's absolutely extortionate."

The fees were proposed as part of the council's cost-saving measures last year and are estimated to generate £64,000 in revenue this financial year.

Mr Coonie said: "You're supposed to be getting a public service off the council, and you're not getting it."

He added he sometimes needed to use the toilet urgently as a result of his condition, but would struggle to access the facilities quickly due to the card entry system.

"If you have to go, you have to go," he said.

A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: "Due to past vandalism and the cost of repairing and operating the toilets, people now have to pay to use the facilities.

"It's common in most cities that still have public toilets to charge and it means that we can keep these toilets open.

"There are other public toilets to use across the city, but having card and contactless payments only at these ones, means we can reduce the risk of vandalism and theft."

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