'Free to pee' campaign over planned toilet charges

Plans to charge people to use council-owned public toilets have been described as "scandalous" by one councillor who has launched a "free to pee" campaign in opposition.

Malton Town Council is planning to introduce a 40p charge to use the conveniences in the town's Market Place when it takes over their running from North Yorkshire Council.

Keane Duncan, who represents the neighbouring town of Norton on North Yorkshire Council, said it was "deeply unfair" and claimed the decision to charge had been made behind "closed doors".

When asked to comment Malton Town Council said it would issue a statement at a later date.

"This is a deeply unfair deal for Malton," Duncan said.

"Other towns will continue to enjoy free public toilets under North Yorkshire Council — and toilets in Pickering and Helmsley will even be upgraded.

"Meanwhile, Malton is being singled out with our residents and visitors forced to pay for a basic necessity."

He said there had been no consultation with residents about the plans to charge.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, members of North Yorkshire Council executive has agreed to hand control of the toilets to the town council.

As part of the deal, the town council will receive a one-off grant of £57,000 from the authority to pay for a refurbishment of the facilities.

Both organisations agreed the town's Wentworth Street toilets, which are a four-minute walk from the Market Place facilities, will be permanently closed when the transfer goes ahead.

Duncan said the decision to charge for use of the toilets was made at a meeting in February.

The minutes of the meeting show councillors agreed to introduce card payment machines as part of a refurbishment programme, with charges being levied on users once the improvements had been completed.

The council also agreed the £10,000 annual maintenance fee for the conveniences would come from the authority's community infrastructure levy budget.

The issue was discussed in a private session when the public was excluded.

"Agreeing this 40p charge, in private and without any public consultation, is scandalous," Duncan said.

He said he was urging the mayor and her fellow councillors to reconsider the decision to ensure "it remains 'free to pee' in Malton".

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