- 11/06/2015
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
MIKE HEDGES SUPPORTS PUBLIC HEALTH BILL PROPOSAL FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO HAVE A STRATEGY FOR ENSURING COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TOILETS.
Mike Hedges AM said I welcome the proposal contained within the Public Wales Health Bill for each Local Authority to have a strategy for public toilets in their area. This must include an assessment of their community’s need for toilets (including facilities for babies and for disabled people), and must set out how the local authority proposes to meet this need. I have met with Age Concern Cymru and heard from elderly people first hand how difficult it can be if there are no toilet facilities available for elderly people. Provision of decent toilet facilities would remove one barrier preventing elderly people from leaving their homes.’
Strategies must be developed in consultation with local stakeholders, and will be subject to regular review.
The provision of adequate public toilet facilities has been identified as a priority public health issue. The Public Health (Wales) Bill aims to improve the planning of toilets for public use, and ensure facilities better meet the needs of local communities.
The Bill does not place a direct requirement on local authorities to provide and maintain public toilets, but requires them to ‘take a strategic view across their area on how these facilities can be provided and accessed by their local population’.
