The public toilets in Malton have had a makeover and are open again but the council is looking to charge for access.
While they remain ‘Free to Pee’ for now, there is a fresh threat of a 40p entry fee.
Local Cllr Keane Duncan said: “This is a very welcome and long-overdue improvement to Malton’s toilets after years of complaints. Sadly, though, the makeover is overshadowed by a fresh possibility of charging for access.
“The council is looking to charge 40p per entry at more of its facilities in North Yorkshire, although it has not yet confirmed exactly where charges may be introduced.”
He says he is asking for an urgent meeting with council officers to ensure alternatives to charging are considered first.
Norton’s toilets remain closed following vandalism. It is hoped they can reopen in the next few weeks.
Councillor Richard Foster, executive member for managing our environment at North Yorkshire Council, said entry fees were needed to provide a better toilet infrastructure.
“I’ve heard about the free-to-pee campaign, and it would be great, but there is a cost and unfortunately, there isn’t a free pee.
“Somebody pays for it somewhere, the cleaning fees, the water rates, electricity, the consumables that go into toilets all have a cost.”
Councillors agreed that the entry fee should be set at 40p rather than a higher proposed rate of 50p.
External funding will be sought to help fund conveniences in areas popular with tourists, but plans to increase fees to park in car parks with toilets, to help cover the cost of running the conveniences, was abandoned.
The council says it will consider the closure of dilapidated conveniences or those with low footfall as part of the review, although talks will take place with parish and town councils first.
The authority is currently responsible for 85 traditional toilet blocks and eight changing places toilets — more than any other council in the UK.
Of those, 28 already have entry fees, which were introduced by previous district and unitary authorities.
It cost the council around £230,000 to operate its toilet network in 2025/26.
