New contactless payment in toilets branded 'outrageous'

People will be charged an increased fee to spend a penny

A decision to install new contactless payment systems in toilets in two Leicestershire towns has been branded "an outrageous waste of money".

The work, costing £23,400, will be carried out at two sites in Coalville and Ashby de la Zouch, in December.

People will be charged an increased 30p fee instead of 10p to use the toilets, which had been free since the pandemic.

North West Leicestershire District Council said the facilities would become more accessible to the public.

Next month the toilets, outside Coalville's former Market Hall and in Derby Road, in Ashby de la Zouch, will close for two days while the electronic systems are installed.

Visitors will then be able to use a credit card or smartphone to make the payment. Coin payments will still be in place and free for anyone using a radar key, which lets people unlock disabled toilets.

'Other priorities'

Labour councillors, who form the main opposition to the coalition-run district council, said the scheme could deter people from using the toilets and has called for the decision to be reversed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

They argued it should have been decided through a public consultation and have asked the council to provide evidence the scheme has been properly planned.

Murrae Blair-Park, Labour councillor for Money Hill ward in Ashby, said: "The decision is an outrageous waste of money at a time when there are so many other priorities and countless better ways to spend £23,000.

"The toilets are an important part of our community, and it matters that they are accessible.

"Since the toilets have been free entry the footfall has increased considerably, and we want it to stay that way."

He added there was also "very little" information about how the accrued money will be spent to benefit the towns.

The district council, which is run by a coalition of Conservative, Liberal Democrat and independent councillors, said the reintroduction of the charge was in line with neighbouring authorities.

Michael Wyatt, portfolio holder for communities at the authority, said the fee would reduce the cost of maintenance and security to run the toilets.

"With more people using electronic payments instead of coins, it is important that we make our public toilets as accessible as possible," he said.

"While we're pleased to say that footfall has increased in both towns since the pandemic, this is ultimately down to the hard work of our local businesses and community groups."

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