East Devon 'free-to-pee' toilets being phased out

East Devon Council is redeveloping four toilet block locations and will charge for their use

Free-to-use public toilets are being phased out by East Devon District Council.

Four of its main Category A facilities are currently being replaced and rebuilt, and are expected to charge 40p for each use.

Ten other toilet blocks are expected to remain free for now but are expected to charge for their use before 2027. The council's other Category B and C lavatories are due to close.

Council deputy leader and portfolio holder for assets Paul Hayward said the council had "no statutory obligation to provide free toilets", adding: "With budget cuts, it was a choice to maintain as many toilets as we can, in a modern condition, as a public amenity".

The new public toilets at Exmouth are being constructed

New toilet blocks are being constructed in Exmouth, Seaton, Budleigh Salterton, and Honiton.

All will be chargeable upon completion in spring 2025.

The council said it hoped the Category B and C toilets would be adopted by other organisations and parish councils, but added it could not guarantee the facilities would not "shut temporarily or permanently".

East Devon Council member Paul Hayward said the council had no choice but to charge for using primary toilets

Hayward said the council had consulted over the provision of public toilets.

The redevelopment at the four prime locations was the "first phase of the council's modernisation works", he said.

The facilities replace outdated 1960s and 1970s buildings which were deemed "not fit for purpose" with modern modular toilet blocks.

Hayward said he accepted that some members of the public did not like to pay to use toilets, but added that "the idea of 'spending a penny' has been around since the 1850s".

He said: "Our grants from national government have been cut and East Devon Council could not afford to keep each and every one of its public toilets open.

"Unfortunately, that's the nature of local government. If it's not a statutory service, some charges have to be made; but we try to keep them as little as possible."