Uncertain future for Flintshire’s remaining public toilets

Flintshire’s last three public toilets are under threat once more after plans to transfer ownership to local town councils hit a number of obstacles.

In Mold a dispute over the lease of the entire building where the toilets are situated – including the Little Café – threatens to derail attempts to preserve the public conveniences at Mold Bus Station.

Meanwhile land ownership issues have stalled plans to transfer ownership of Holywell and Talacre public toilets to the relevant town and community councils.

All three toilets, which are currently owned and operated by Flintshire County Council, were supposed to have been saved by Community Asset Transfers (CAT) following a public consultation on their future last year after the local authority said it would no longer fund them.

Now all three are facing possible closure once more.

County councillors will examine the issues on Tuesday, October 6 when officers present an update report on Public Conveniences to the Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Mold is where perhaps the biggest challenge lies. Mold Town Council has entered discussions to take ownership of the public toilets at Mold Bus Station.

To make the transfer viable however, the council wants Flintshire to transfer the lease for the whole building, including the Little Café.

It says the revenue generated will make operating and maintaining the toilets viable. According to the documents Flintshire County Council takes a different view, stating that the café building’s ‘inclusion within the CAT proposal is not currently being supported by the Council’.

Mold Town Council has responded by informing Flintshire Council that ‘the exclusion of the café may significantly influence its willingness to proceed with the CAT arrangement, which potentially places the future transfer opportunity at risk’.

At Holywell and Talacre, where CAT plans are not as far advanced as in Mold, initial work to carry out the asset transfers has revealed land ownership issues at both sites.

Both will require the land to be correctly registered – a process which will take around 18 months.

All three sites are due to close for a short period while £240,000 of Pride in Place Funding is spent on upgrading and refurbishing the toilets.

But with Flintshire Council having only budgeted £72,000 for this financial year to operate the toilets while the CATs were negotiated, the council is now facing a potential overspend of £35,000 and an unexpected cost pressure of £107,000 for 2027/28.

“There is currently no confirmed funding provision for the operation of the facilities following completion of the Pride in Place programme unless Community Asset Transfer arrangements or an alternative operating model can be secured,” said Chief Officer for Streetscene and Transportation Katie Wilby.

“This creates a potential disconnect between the capital investment programme and the future operation of the facilities.

“Should the community asset transfers prove to be unachievable, and should no further council revenue funding be identified, there is a risk that the council could successfully deliver the capital improvements to the facilities whilst still facing future decisions regarding the operation, management or potential closure of the facilities.

“The key questions for consideration are therefore whether the council wishes to continue investing in upgrading the public convenience facilities if no sustainable long-term operating model can be secured or whether it wishes to fund the facilities to remain open.

“A strategic direction is required for the council’s future approach should the three community asset transfers not prove achievable.”

In February this year the consultation on the future of public toilets in Flintshire found that 77.6% of residents and businesses would support the toilets being kept open with a usage fee charged. The majority of respondents in all three  areas also backed the transfer of ownership to town and community councils.

The committee will have its say before Cabinet makes the ultimate decision on October 13.

By Alec Doyle – Local Democracy Reporter