February 25, 2026 - 162 views
The Leader of the Welsh Conservatives has called for public toilets to become a statutory requirement for councils, amid growing concern over closures across Wales.
Darren Millar raised the issue during the Senedd’s Business Statement, saying he had been contacted by residents worried about the possible loss of public conveniences in his Clwyd West constituency.
He urged the Welsh Government to consider strengthening the law to prevent further closures.
“We know that public conveniences are very important, particularly for those people who have health conditions or disabilities,” he said. “They are also important assets for our visitor economy. But it is a concern that we’re seeing many of these close across Wales.”
Under the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017, local authorities must publish strategies outlining how they will provide access to public toilets. However, there is currently no legal obligation requiring councils to actually maintain or operate them.
Responding on behalf of the Welsh Government, Jane Hutt acknowledged the issue and said the requirement for councils to publish strategies was introduced through public health legislation. She noted that some areas have worked with shops and businesses to make facilities more widely available, but suggested any move to introduce a statutory duty would be a matter for political debate.
Across the UK, public toilet provision has been declining for more than a decade. Research by the British Toilet Association has previously indicated that thousands of council-run public toilets have closed since 2010, largely due to budget pressures.
In Wales, councils continue to face significant financial constraints, with many authorities reviewing non-statutory services to balance their books.
Campaigners argue that public toilets are far from a “nice to have”. For elderly residents, people with disabilities, those with medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, colitis or bladder disorders, and families with young children, access to facilities can determine whether they are able to leave home at all.
Tourism leaders have also warned that a lack of accessible public conveniences can harm visitor destinations — a significant concern in North Wales, where coastal towns and rural attractions rely heavily on day-trippers and holidaymakers.
Speaking after the debate, Mr Millar said the current situation gives councils “a free rein” to close facilities in the pursuit of cost savings.
“Public toilets should not be on the table when it comes to cutting services,” he said.
The Welsh Government has not indicated that it will introduce a statutory duty at this stage, but the issue is likely to remain on the political agenda as councils continue to grapple with tightening budgets and communities voice concern over further closures.
