Woking: Public toilets face closure to save bankrupt council cash

This toilet in Horsell is one of those under threat of closure

Public toilets across Woking are facing closure, as the council tries to tackle its debts.

Woking Borough Council is £1.2bn in debt and issued a section 114 notice last year, effectively declaring itself bankrupt.

The council leader said the decision is essential in order for the authority to set a balanced budget.

But critics said toilet closures cost town centres money by deterring people from visiting.

The proposed closure of 10 toilets is part of a proposed £8m savings package which would also see cuts in funding to day care centres and increasing charges for Woking's Pool in the Park leisure centre.

Council leader Anne-Marie Barker said the authority was being forced into the decision by its financial circumstances.

She said: "Nobody comes into politics to reduce things, to do less for people. It's not been easy.

"In most settings, there is an alternative location nearby, including our leisure centres and a number of participating cafes. We will continue to work with local businesses to identify alternative provision wherever possible."

Knaphill's toilets are also facing closure

But Raymond Martin, managing director of the British Toilet Association, predicted the closures would affect trade for local businesses.

He told BBC Radio Surrey: "If you want people to come out and move around your towns and your villages then you have to provide public toilets because those people bring with them money, and money drives the economy.

"People will stop coming into the towns and villages. Footfall will drop. Revenues will drop, and we'll start to see degradation. Toilets are an integral part of society."

Mr Martin said he understood the financial problems that Woking and other councils were facing.

"Without the financial backing of government councils are starting to struggle to keep these things open" he said.

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