Demolition countdown for public toilets leaves North Wales tourism town in 'uproar'
A popular market town in the Conwy Valley has been left in "uproar" after discovering their public toilet block is to be bulldozed. Residents in Llanrwst only learnt at the eleventh hour that the town centre facility has been earmarked for demolition at the end of February.
The toilets, on the Watling Street car park, have been closed for almost a year after repeated vandalism. But realisation they could be lost forever came as a shock and rear-guard action is now underway to preserve the facility.
Moves are afoot to form a social enterprise and the town council has pleaded for a stay of execution so that locals can build a business plan. A last-minute lobbying campaign has been mooted but dismayed residents have reported seeing workers dismantling internal fixtures and fitting already.
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A key concern is the potential impact on tourism. Llanrwst’s riverside attractions and its proximity to Gwydir Forest make it a popular stop-off – but coach operators typically plan itineraries based on toilet provision. BusyBus, which runs sightseeing tours to North Wales from Manchester, Liverpool and Chester, has already dropped Llanrwst for this reason.
Writing online, the company said: “We used to love stopping in Llanrwst, but since the toilets in the town centre closed, it’s been a bit of a challenge. Ty Hwnt I'r Bont was always a highlight for our guests - they loved the coffee and cake, and it was a great spot for a break, especially because it had a toilet.
“However the cafe can get overwhelmed if all 16 of our guests want to visit at once, so we now only stop in Betws-y-Coed. It’s a shame, really - Llanrwst is a great town location, and it’s always calmer in the summer than Betws.” Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
Vandalism and arson was blamed for the “temporary” closure of the Watling Street toilets, which were last year earmarked for permanent closures as part of a county-wide cost-cutting purge of public loos. But it was hoped Conwy Council would relent or that the town council would agree to take over their running. Llanrwst Town Council was offered the opportunity in November 2023 but negotiations stumbled almost as soon as they began.
It was among a number of Conwy Council facilities in the town offered by for “sponsorship”, including the Watling Street car park itself. With the toilets set to cost the town council £3,000-a-year, it asked for more information, such as historic income and running costs. Town Mayor Mostyn Jones said this was never provided.
Instead, he led negotiations over the car park, which the town council wanted to be free to help workers and boost trade. Talks came to nothing but eyebrows were raised last summer when new designs showed a toilet-free car park. More suspicions were aroused in November when another list of sponsorship options included the “spaceship” loos at out-of-town Gwydyr Park (£1,928-per-year) – but not the Watling Street toilets.
Matters came to a head in early January when Conwy Council hosted an open meeting at the car park to describe its planned resurfacing and the installation of EV charging points. Six residents turned up and they were horrified to learn the toilet block had been identified as a “surplus asset” and was to be demolished on February 28. Conwy Council is seeking delegated planning consent (reference 0/52274) and residents have until February 21 to object.
“There was a sense of shock,” said one person present at the site meeting. “One individual even offered to buy the facility for the community but they never heard back. Arguments about viability aside, what’s annoyed people is the process and the lack of consultation.
“These toilets were used frequently - the local rugby and football teams would pay a visit before matches. Children from the local school were dropped off there and campervans would pitch up for overnight stays. Now you see visitors being caught unawares and having to disappear around the back.
“There’s a plan to submit a series of objection letters to the planning committee in the hope that county councillors are made aware of the public uproar in Llanrwst. The hope is to force a delay so that the community can have time to examine whether they can take over its running.”
An online survey was promptly launched and more than 100 responded. Of these, 93% said the loss of the toilets will have a significant impact on the town. Some 69% were willing to “pay per use” and 13% were willing to pay more council tax to ensure the facility is retained. Only 3.5% backed the block’s demolition.
Feedback suggested elderly residents risked being caught short and that visitors were already having to “pee in laybys”. One angry cafe owner fumed at the way her business was being used as a public convenience, saying: “I constantly have visitors – not customers – walking in and going straight to the toilet. Whilst we would never refuse anyone, it is unacceptable that this occurs. This should not be our responsibility or at a cost to ourselves.”
Llanrwst Town Council has registered its objection on the basis that the reason given for demolition is unclear. It asked Conwy Council for evidence that vandalism and arson was so costly the toilet block could not be retained.
But Mostyn Jones accepted this was a risk for anyone who takes it on. “He said: “The town council is unlikely to consider running the toilets because of the serious liabilities that could be incurred in the event of ongoing vandalism. I’m genuinely concerned that any community group taking on the toilets would also be exposed to huge financial liability if repeated repairs are needed.
“Some have called for CCTV cameras to be installed at the toilets to deter vandalism. But this is not viable – cameras can’t be installed inside for privacy reasons, and any footage collected outside would not be evidence of vandalism.”
The town council has also taken a dim view of the red tape associated with Conwy Council’s Community Toilet Scheme, which offers to pay shops and other businesses up to £500-a-year to make their loos available to the public free of charge. Under this, said Cllr Jones, town councillors would be required to carry out their own checks and assessments of individual facilities – something they’re ill-equipped to do.
“You can’t expect councillors to go around in their spare time inspecting people’s toilets and bathrooms,” he said. “And the paperwork is unbelievable!”
Instead, the town council may organise a voluntary business scheme, or at the very least ensure that all facilities are properly signposted. Cllr Jones added: “It’s not the case that we will be completely without public toilets in the town centre.
"The library at Glasdir is open six days a week and the town council has facilities. When the youth centre reopens, there will be toilets there too.” Llanrwst’s swimming pool has been suggested too but this building would be unavailable when schools are in or swimming lessons are being held.
What Conwy Council said
Conwy’s toilet strategy was approved by the county council in November 2023. A spokesperson said all town and community councils across Conwy were asked to consider sponsoring or taking over responsibility for public toilets.
“No proposals have been received from Llanrwst Town Council,” they said. “The toilets in Watling Street car park have been closed for almost a year due to vandalism, therefore the toilet building has become surplus to requirement."
As part of the car park’s refurbishment, an “opportunity” arose to demolish the building, said the local authority. This offered “substantial cost savings” for the council, it added.
Cllr Goronwy Edwards, cabinet member for infrastructure, transport and facilities, added: “We don’t have the budget to subsidise public toilets. Site inspections and standing charges mean that costs are still incurred even when toilets are closed down. The option to demolish these toilets as part of the work to refurbish the car park is an economical solution.”
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