500 signatures reached
To: Councillor Geraint Hopkins, Powys County Council
Stop the closure of public toilets in Hay-on-Wye
Dear Councillor Hopkins,
We ask you to work to keep the public toilets in Hay-on-Wye open. Hay is a town with a thriving visitor economy and we believe that closing the toilets will reduce the number of visitors and damage our livelihoods.
We are concerned that the people who will be most affected will be those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Powys County Council has not carried out an Equality Impact Assessment and we urge you not to overlook this vital piece of work.
We would like to ask you to consult with the people of Hay and listen to our opinions. Our public toilets are vital to residents and visitors, and we ask you to engage with the community before you make a decision.
We call on you to make preserving our public toilets a priority and ensure that people may continue to have the confidence and freedom to enjoy our town.
We ask you to work to keep the public toilets in Hay-on-Wye open. Hay is a town with a thriving visitor economy and we believe that closing the toilets will reduce the number of visitors and damage our livelihoods.
We are concerned that the people who will be most affected will be those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Powys County Council has not carried out an Equality Impact Assessment and we urge you not to overlook this vital piece of work.
We would like to ask you to consult with the people of Hay and listen to our opinions. Our public toilets are vital to residents and visitors, and we ask you to engage with the community before you make a decision.
We call on you to make preserving our public toilets a priority and ensure that people may continue to have the confidence and freedom to enjoy our town.
Why is this important?
We know that you have asked Hay Town Council to take over the management of the toilets, but they do not have the money or resources to do so. It is not fair to ask Hay Town Council to raise their precept - this would cost each Hay resident around £30.
Fitting coin-operated locks to public toilets has in some areas led to vandalism and theft, and has discouraged use of the proper facilities with people choosing to urinate in doorways etc.
We believe that closure of the public toilets will particularly affect people with characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010, namely age, disability and pregnancy.
Age Cymru say that toilet closures will mean "an increasing number of older people will be at risk of becoming isolated in their own homes." They argue that "where toilets may be closed or transferred to other ownership it is essential that the public are adequately consulted and that the decision is ‘age-proofed’, meaning that express consideration is given to the impact upon the older people who may use them." No such consultation or consideration has been carried out.
The Bladder and Bowel Foundation say that "finding a toilet when out and about continues to be a priority for many people affected by a bladder or bowel problem, and unfortunately remains one of the reasons why so many cut down on social activities or even stop going out altogether." Closing our public toilets will make our town inaccessible for the "estimated 14 million people in the UK with a bladder control problem and 6.5 million with a bowel control problem."
Hay's visitors include a large proportion of older people, who are more likely to need access to toilet facilities.
Up to a quarter of a million people come to Hay for the Festival each year. Failing to make proper provision for these and the many other visitors to the town will have disastrous consequences for our tourist industry.
Our public toilets are well used by local people including business owners who don't have their own facilities. Removal of these essential toilets will mean that people are less willing to spend time in town. Businesses will suffer as their owners and staff cannot spend eight or more hours a day at work without access to a toilet - our Thursday market traders will be similarly affected.
We believe that Powys County Council must accept that access to toilet provision is a basic human need and we require an urgent review of the plan to close our toilets.
Fitting coin-operated locks to public toilets has in some areas led to vandalism and theft, and has discouraged use of the proper facilities with people choosing to urinate in doorways etc.
We believe that closure of the public toilets will particularly affect people with characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010, namely age, disability and pregnancy.
Age Cymru say that toilet closures will mean "an increasing number of older people will be at risk of becoming isolated in their own homes." They argue that "where toilets may be closed or transferred to other ownership it is essential that the public are adequately consulted and that the decision is ‘age-proofed’, meaning that express consideration is given to the impact upon the older people who may use them." No such consultation or consideration has been carried out.
The Bladder and Bowel Foundation say that "finding a toilet when out and about continues to be a priority for many people affected by a bladder or bowel problem, and unfortunately remains one of the reasons why so many cut down on social activities or even stop going out altogether." Closing our public toilets will make our town inaccessible for the "estimated 14 million people in the UK with a bladder control problem and 6.5 million with a bowel control problem."
Hay's visitors include a large proportion of older people, who are more likely to need access to toilet facilities.
Up to a quarter of a million people come to Hay for the Festival each year. Failing to make proper provision for these and the many other visitors to the town will have disastrous consequences for our tourist industry.
Our public toilets are well used by local people including business owners who don't have their own facilities. Removal of these essential toilets will mean that people are less willing to spend time in town. Businesses will suffer as their owners and staff cannot spend eight or more hours a day at work without access to a toilet - our Thursday market traders will be similarly affected.
We believe that Powys County Council must accept that access to toilet provision is a basic human need and we require an urgent review of the plan to close our toilets.
