Exclusive: The cost of vandalism to our toilets

Our public toilets are a vital asset, except they keep getting vandalised - at a cost to all taxpayers in Newtown.

Following the news again recently that the public toilets in Newtown were closed due to vandalism, All About Newtown submitted a Freedom of Information request to the operators, Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council to find out how much all this is costing residents.

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The data reveals that between January 2023 and December 2023, the toilets were vandalised approximately 26 times. Town Council staff around 14 hours fixing these issues to ensure that the £54,500 a year toilets, remain open for residents and visitors.

The Council estimates that approximately £1,394 was spent fixing these specific issues during 2023. This figure includes materials and staff time. The Council's budget for 2023/24 shows that £3,519 has been spent on both sets of toilets, in either responsive or planned maintenance.

Public toilets in Newtown are also incredible popular, with around 14,000 visits between April and May last year.

The town council budget for next year, approved this month, increases the amount spent on the public toilets to £57,500 - 6.4% of their precept request or around £12 a year per Band D household. It is also hoped that plans can progress to install a new changing places facility and remodel one of the toilet blocks.

The town council took over running both public toilet blocks, one at the Gravel Car Park and the other at Back Lane Car Park in 2015 from Powys County Council. It is currently free to use both facilities.

We also know that toilets are well regarded in the community.

All About Newtown recently asked on Facebook for local views on our toilets. Some of the comments are reproduced below.

"Hugely important!!!. Not only for the residents of Newtown- which should be enough alone to provide a community with toilets, but also people who visit the town during holidays to access the park/ walks etc. Many families love coming to use the new park and will visit the town spending funds. Without a public toilet I personally would be put off."

"People with medical conditions, the homeless and also the 1000s of workers such as carers, drivers, support workers etc who hugely rely on public toilets whilst out and about their daily work"

"Since there is a bus stop nearby and the cafe only allows café users to use their toilet, it is essential to keep Back Lane toilets open as the bus drivers need to use them, as do taxi drivers who wait in the taxi rank nearby and all bus users who are caught short while waiting for a delayed bus, these are all people that benefit as do anybody arriving into Newtown and parking their car nearby."

"Good quality clean secure toilets are an essential part of any town...but there must be cctv surveillance installed to deter the current problem of vandalism"

"Public toilets are essential unless we want people defecating in the bushes. It's a public health issue. It's a pity the vandals can't be caught and be made to clean the toilets daily. Or maybe be refused access to toilets for a while!!"