London boroughs urged to halt public toilet closures

London: A recent report from Age UK London has raised some serious alarms about public toilet closures in the city. It turns out that nearly 100 public toilets have shut down over the last decade. That’s a big deal, especially for folks who rely on them.

According to the report, councils have closed about three times as many toilets as they’ve opened. John McGeachy, the campaign manager at Age UK London, emphasized how crucial these facilities are for everyone, especially older people and those with health issues. Without them, many might hesitate to step outside.

The charity gathered data by reaching out to all 33 local councils in London, but only 30 got back to them. The findings showed that 25 boroughs reported at least 97 closures since 2013. Some boroughs didn’t open any new toilets at all during that time, while others managed to add a few.

Age UK London is calling on councils to come up with tailored plans to increase the number of public toilets. They also want the government to provide better funding to help local authorities meet this need. A spokesperson from London Councils acknowledged the importance of public toilets but pointed out the financial challenges boroughs face.

Funding for boroughs has dropped by 28% since 2010, even as London’s population has grown. This has made it tough for councils to keep up with the rising demand for services, including public toilets.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government mentioned that local authorities know their communities best and are working on solutions. They’re injecting £69 billion into council budgets to help tackle these issues.

Finally, the report suggests that City Hall should create a plan to improve public toilet access across London. This would involve working with local councils and community groups to identify areas lacking facilities and find solutions.