THE future of Conwy’s public toilets has been referred for discussion at a council meeting next month, in what councillors have called an “astonishing” and “shocking” move.
A special meeting was pencilled in for yesterday (August 22) to re-debate Conwy County Borough Council’s decision to close public toilets.
The local authority had said last month it would close some of its 40 public toilets on September 4 due to financial problems.
Conwy County Borough Council also plans to scale back toilet opening hours, or close services out of season.
But it was instead agreed yesterday that the debate on the issue will take place at the council’s next Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting on September 2 – just two days prior to the scheduled closing date of some of the toilets.
Janet Finch-Saunders, Aberconwy MS, labelled yesterday “a sad day for local democracy”.
She said: “Questions are not being answered, concerns are being ignored, and decisions are being made without consultation. This is just unacceptable.
“It appears that conversation about many issues that directly impact constituents are being repressed or denied.
“For example, by the time reports are presented to a new committee as requested, the toilets may already be closed, meaning that scrutiny is not being permitted.
“I will continue to hold those to account and keep raising the fact that the closure of the public loos will have a profound impact on our community.
“I urge that concerned residents contact their councillors to have their voices heard.”
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Cllr Harry Saville, who represents the Gogarth Mostyn ward on Conwy County Borough Council, called the decision “absolutely astonishing”.
He said: “Instead of there being a debate, the motion was referred, without discussion, to a cross-party scrutiny committee on September 2.
“They’ll be able to make a recommendation on the future of these toilets to the cabinet committee, who will make a final decision.
“The cabinet isn’t scheduled to meet until September 10 – six days after the planned closures.”
Similarly, Cllr Tom Montgomery, who represents the Tudno ward on the council, slammed the “shocking” decision.
He said: “No matter whether you think public toilets should be closed to save money or protected for the benefit of our towns and communities (I fall into the latter group), we can surely all agree that our council, its officers and cabinet members, should not mislead councillors and the public.
“They have kicked the can down the road, voting instead to bring a report to another committee, which will then go to the cabinet. The timetable for this will be after the Environment, Roads and Facilities (ERF) department have closed our public toilets.
“There has also been no consultation with local members about the toilets that ERF have identified to be closed.
“When I highlighted this to the head of ERF, he had nothing to say.
“I am shocked, disappointed and frankly disgusted. This is not how democracy or scrutiny should work.
“In short, officers introduced a strategy and promised to consult and engage. They have not done that, and any attempt to scrutinise this failure is being brushed under the carpet by the coalition.”
At the end of July, Conservative members tabled a motion signed by numerous councillors, including Cllrs Saville and Montgomery.
The members had claimed that councillors were not consulted or involved in discussions before news about the proposed closures was made public on July 24.
The full list of toilets scheduled for closure later this year is as follows:
- Capel Curig - Snowdon View, rear of Pinnacle Cafe - closes September 4
- Cerrigydrudion - Tan Lan - closed due to vandalism
- Colwyn Bay - Promenade, opposite Porth Eirias (Old Colwyn) - closes September 4
- Colwyn Bay - Ivy Street car park - closed due to vandalism
- Dwygyfylchi - Fairy Glen Road / Conwy Old Road - closed due to unsafe facility
- Eglwysbach - Maes Llan - closes September 4
- Llanddulas - Beach car park - already closed
- Llandudno - Haulfre Gardens - closes September 4
- Llandudno - St Tudno's Church, St Tudno's Road, Great Orme - closes September 4
- Llandudno Junction - Osbourne Road - closed due to vandalism
- Llanefydd - Community Hall car park - closes September 4
- Llanelian yn Rhos - Next to the playing field - closes September 4
- Llanfairfechan Village Road - already closed
- Llanfairfechan - Station Road - already closed
- Llanrwst - Watling Street - already closed
- Penmaenmawr - Fernbrook Road car park - closes September 4
- Penmaenmawr - Promenade - closes September 4
- Rowen - Llanerch Estate - closes September 4
- Towyn - Sandbank Road - closed due to unsafe facility
- Ysbyty Ifan - Off the playing field - closes September 4
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