Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

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We have mail: Public toilets - a step in the right direction?

Hi Jan,

As a regular reader of your very informative publication, I know you have expressed interest in the thorny issue of public (or 'away from home') toilets in past editions.

May I bring to your attention some positive news regarding The Public Health (Wales) Act 2017? As you may know, this is a very, very important piece of legislation for Local Authorities in Wales, as Section 8 of the Act places a duty on every Local Authority in Wales to create a public toilet strategy for the provision of toilets in villages, towns, cities, sites of cultural, sporting and historical interest, along highways and active travel routes, etc.

As a campaigner for improvements in provision of these essential facilities, I congratulate all those people concerned with this section of the Act which relates to 'away from home' toilets. Their hard work has continued and resulted in a very well-thought- out consultation document:

Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 Section 8: Local Toilets Strategies - Consultation Document on Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities

The consultation document asks for comments on draft statutory guidance which sets out how Local Authorities in Wales should meet the requirements of Section 8 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017. Under this legislation, Local Authorities in Wales are required to prepare, consult on and publish a local toilets strategy for their authority area according to criteria set within the Act. The draft statutory guidance is intended to assist Local Authorities in successfully implementing their duties under Part 8 of the Act and identifying the matters they should take into consideration when preparing, reviewing and consulting upon a local toilets strategy.

A technical guidance document on the mapping of toilet locations is included within the documents as it is referred to in the draft statutory guidance document. It is included for information and does not form part of the consultation.

I recommend that everyone with an interest in the provision of public toilets, access the consultation document and supporting papers at the following link:

https://consultations.gov.wales/consultations/local-toilets-strategies-statutory-guidance-local-authorities

With regard to the provision of public toilets, the Welsh Government has taken the lead with the Public Health (Wales) Act. Perhaps this will lead to appropriate new legislation in England and other countries.

Kind regards,

Susan Cunningham,
Public In-Conveniences
www.publicinconveniences.org.uk

8th February 2018