Community activists and councillors in Peasedown St John have expressed anger and disappointed this week at the announcement from the Council that the public lavatories in Greenlands Road car park are to close.
Notices have been posted by the authority indicating that the public amenities will no longer be in use after 1st August.
Local resident Becci McCafferty, who has campaigned previously for them to be retained, said: “Elderly residents have told me that they’d like them to stay open, and I know that some of the businesses in Bath Road would like them to remain.
“I’m aware that councils have to made decisions about how to spend less money, but small local amenities like this do matter.”
B&NES Council has embarked on a two-year closure plan of half of its 29 public lavatories across the authority. Minimal consultation has been carried out meaning the council has little idea what level of support these plans have.
Karen Walker, a member of Peasedown St John Parish Council and the Somer Valley Partnership spoke in a personal capacity this week, highlighting the need for local investment:
“Peasedown St John is a village in need of more services and amenities. With almost 7,000 residents it’s important that we have the investment our village needs.
“Throughout the Somer Valley and the wider north Somerset area there are few public lavatories left open, and on the approach to Peasedown St John from Radstock drivers and other visitors can see our local signs proudly indicating these are services we offer.”
Critics of the move have also come from one of the council’s own. Liberal Democrat councillor Nathan Hartley has spoken out publicly against his own party for the first time to express regret at the way the toilet closure plan is being carried out. He said:
“All councils have to make difficult decisions about spending plans, but I was given assurances by the Cabinet that we’d have 12 months to find an alternative. This promise was broken when I received an email on Thursday with the news that the toilets will close on 1st August.
“Environmental Services have carried out no public consultation or looked into alternative ways of providing such provisions in our community.”
In 2012, Bath and North East Somerset Council spent £8,000 on refurbishing the toilets after a request was received from Cllr Nathan Hartley by the Property Services team. He added:
“Refurbishment one year, and closure the next – this doesn’t send a clear consistent message to residents.”
Peasedown St John Parish Council will be meeting on Tuesday 28th May to discuss the issue, and to decide whether there is any scope for them to take over the running and maintenance of the toilets.
