Bins for needles and inspections every 45 minutes are some of the measures being taken to improve York’s “disgusting” public toilets.
There have been long standing issues with vandalism, drug use and anti-social behaviour at the facilities.
Councillor Paula Widdowson, executive member for environment, said there were “major ongoing issues” but said the council was taking action.
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She was responding to criticism from Labour councillor Aisling Musson, who read out negative Tripadvisor reviews of the toilets during a meeting.
She said: “No toilet paper, smell vile, bins not emptied, took my money but wouldn’t let me in, disgusting – that one’s in all capitals as many of them are – no toilet roll, poo stains.
“There’s another review that says ‘two stars because I did manage to actually urinate in this toilet but also very likely picked a myriad of infections along the way’”.
Toilet seats ripped off
Cllr Widdowson replied: “This administration has undertaken a strategic review of the city, and this review, along with the TripAdvisor reviews, has identified that these toilets need improvement – we agree with that.”
She added that the toilets at Coppergate Shopping Centre had undergone refurbishment for the first time since the 1980s and that new toilets had been opened in Rougier Street.
In Rowntree Park, the toilets have had to be replaced with built-in seats to stop vandalism as they were being ripped off.
The toilets in Exhibition Square have reopened after vandalism and there is staff member on site during the day at Silver Street.
Needle bins have also been put in the Coppergate and Exhibition Square toilets so drug users can safely dispose of them.
The council is also looking at introducing more fully accessible ‘changing places’ toilets in the city.
Private company
Cllr Widdowson criticised Labour for handing over the management of the toilets to a private company, Healthmatic, in 2014.
She added: “We have major ongoing issues with vandalism and anti-social behaviour. To address this, all city centre toilets have a cleanliness and safety inspection every 45 minutes, introduced recently.
“Police respond quickly to all the Healthmatic calls, of which there are several every day, and the BID (business improvement district) rangers are also supporting Healthmatic in delivering the service we expect for our residents and our visitors.
“Maybe Labour shouldn’t have introduced the 40p charge when you awarded the contract to a private company to save £75,000 a year. And you awarded this contract for 15 years – so it ends in 2029.”