Lack of loos in Leeds 'barrier' to older people going out

A shortage of public toilets in Leeds is discouraging older people in the city from getting out and about, a councillor has said.

Councillor Penny Stables said the issue was proving a "barrier" to elderly citizens being able to walk and cycle.

"They're worried about going too far in case there are no public toilets," she told a meeting.

The city council is currently running a pilot scheme to make walking and cycling more attractive.

One issue under consideration is the number of public toilets, a meeting of the council's climate emergency advisory committee was told.

Pre-pandemic figures showed Leeds had 37 public toilets, some of which were only accessible in places like cemeteries and libraries, rather than in shopping areas.

Ms Stables, who was elected in Wetherby for the Green Party earlier this year, asked if the number of toilet facilities across Leeds might increase.

"I think actually that's a barrier in terms of active travel and particularly in terms of the older population," she said.

"I think it would increase participation in active travel, if there were more public toilets."

Anna Frearson, a consultant in public health at the authority, said she was unsure if there would be a city-wide increase off the back of the trial scheme, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service

She told the meeting: "The pilot is within Burmantofts, Harehills, and Richmond Hill, so there's no plans at this moment in time to go any further than that.

"It's very much about what we need in that local area," she said, adding: "So, no is the short answer."

However, she said: "It's definitely part of the approach [with the pilot scheme], in terms of making sure people can walk and have the facilities they need."