Council plans to flush away poor public toilets

City of York Council’s public conveniences could be given a much-needed upgrade to improve cleanliness and disabled access.

The Cabinet will be asked on 3 December to approve plans to implement a contract to both refurbish and run the facilities for the next 15 years.

The project aims to invest £663,000 on modern facilities, maintained and cleaned to a high standard.

The Council wants to make savings of £75,000 whilst making the improvements through using external providers and charging for use.

A bid has been received which meets these criteria and, subject to cabinet’s agreement, refurbishment will be complete by May 2014 followed by a 15-year operating contract.

Upgrading will take place at the public toilets on Acomb’s Front Street, Coppergate, Exhibition Square, Tanner Row and those at the car parks on Nunnery Lane and St George’s Field.

Besides improvements to the Silver Street toilets which already includes a changing place disabled facility, an additional changing place will be built as part of the refurbishment at Union Terrace car park’s toilets.

All toilets will have unisex cubicles and have baby change facilities. Accessibility will be improved with all facilities having alarm cords for disabled users connected to a 24-hour helpline and there will be 24-hour access to all toilets.

This will be controlled by gates operated by payment of a 40p fee – what is already being charged at Silver Street – while disabled users can continue to use RADAR keys for no charge.

Cllr David Levene, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “What is proposed is a significant refurbishment of our public toilets, an improvement in cleanliness standards, and much more accessible facilities for our disabled residents and visitors, all while making necessary savings.”