Rate relief for firms that let public use their toilets

Aug 8 2008 by Matt Aplin, Western Mail

SMALL businesses are to be offered rate relief – if they allow the public to use their toilets.

A new Welsh Assembly Government scheme, designed to provide more toilets for the public, is being targeted at businesses such as pubs, garages and filling stations.

Under the scheme participating councils will receive £18,000 annually to provide rate relief to businesses that allow the public to relieve themselves at their premises.

The Welsh Assembly Government has committed £385,000 of its £7m budget allocated for enhancing small business rate relief to the scheme. It will come into effect from April 1 next year,

Mike Bone, director of the British Toilet Association, said he fully supported the idea, providing it was not a replacement for public toilets.

He said: “Over the last 10 years, 50% of our toilets have been closed. Some of them have become obsolete and beyond repair, others have been closed because councillors have issues with vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

“A lot of councils are very keen on public toilets standards. For instance, Ceredigion council enter our loo of the year awards every year and do not mind having them inspected.

“However, there are some that have taken the opportunity to save money by closing toilets. Our view is that we should be looking to prevent this from happening.

“We support the work the Welsh Assembly Government is doing and in this case it doesn’t seem the scheme is to not to replace public toilets but to improve standards.”

Mike Davies, a mechanic at Tudor Garage, in Ystradowen, Vale of Glamorgan, said he thought the scheme was a great idea.

He said: “There is a definite shortage of public toilets and my garage would definitely be interested in this scheme. At some of the public toilets at the moment you have to pay 10p to use them which is completely unacceptable.”

But landlords at Welsh pubs have given the idea a lukewarm response.

Sian Jones, landlady at the Wes-ton Vaults, in Aberystwyth, said she thought the idea would be more useful if targeting the bigger pubs rather than small businesses.

She said: “Because we are a small pub we are not open in the day all the time. I think this would work better in chain pubs.”

Bryan Fernando, landlord at The Hafod Inn, Swansea, said he would not take part in the scheme.

He said: “You have to walk through the bar to get to the toilets here and I wouldn’t want anyone walking through.

“In fact, I have a sign on my door that says ‘Patrons only.’”

Vic Davies, landlord at the Cefn Mably Arms, in Michaelston-y-Fedw, Cardiff, said the initiative would need further work.

He said: “If I was to introduce this I would want to be relieved of any liability from people coming in to our facilities if they broke the smoking ban.

“What if someone tripped over while using our facilities? Would we be liable? It’s a potential minefield.”

But Chris Franks, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales Central, said he hoped many small businesses would take part in the scheme.

“Over the past 20 years there has been a consistent reduction in public toilet facilities, often as a result of vandalism and the cost of maintaining them to an acceptable standard,” he said. “Some public facilities have been nothing short of disgraceful.

“This scheme offers an opportunity for both residents and visitors in areas with limited toilet facilities, such as the Vale, to be able to spend a penny if they are caught short.

“The initiative by the Welsh Assembly Government provides funding to increase the provision of free public access to toilet facilities in Wales and I hope many small businesses, working in partnership with local authorities, will offer this much-needed service.”