A fresh attempt to introduce charges at public toilets in North Yorkshire has been put on hold by the council leader today.
North Yorkshire Council’s Executive had been expected to approve a 50p charge and closures of facilities this morning – but plans will now be put on hold giving more time for the full impact of the measures to be considered.
Conservative councillor Keane Duncan has been running a ‘Free to Pee’ campaign.
Reacting to the news, he said: “Charging people to use the toilet is unfair and unjust.
“Thanks to the strength of our community petition, we successfully stopped charges and closures in Malton last year.
“With the threat of a ‘toilet tax’ now looming for the whole of North Yorkshire, I am relaunching my ‘Free to Pee’ campaign and redoubling efforts to defend this essential service in communities across the county.
“I welcome the Leader’s decision to postpone this plan, giving time for the full impact of these proposals to be properly and carefully considered.”
Cllr Carl Les, the council leader, said in a meeting today that he wanted more time to look at amendments to the proposals.
He said he was deferring any decisions until then.
Councillor Andrew Williams, independent councillor for the Ripon Minster and Moorside division and a member of the ruling group, said he would like to see the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, contributing towards public toilets.
He added: “The mayor is wanting to levy a tourism tax and raise money from tourists, well he should be providing facilities for them. I think we need to focus on what the mayor brings to the table and then assess our options thereafter.
“Looking at charges and all the rest of it at the moment is potentially premature.”
