The BTA has officially launched it’s Legalise Loos campaign in which it hopes to encourge National government to recognise the problems of poor toilet provision and the lack of decent clean facilities across the country. By promoting a series of strong images and messages through the media and our marketing materials we are aiming to get acknowledgement form the relevant departmenst that there is a national problem with the provision and quantity of publicly accessible toilets in our towns and villages,

Some of the messages we have been using to promote the campaign

With over 40% of all publicly accessible toilets lost in the last 10-15 years it has become ever more difficult to find a public loo when you need one. Additionally, those that remain are under ever increasing threat of closure due to the lack of any recognisable or significant funding from Westminster. Councils across the country are, all to often, relying on “discretionary” monies left over from the mandatory services they provide to update or make necesaary repairs to their stock.

The BTA is repeatedly facing both media and public complaints regarding the often appalling conditions that users face when trying to find relief. With so many public toilets being unmanned or unsupervised the growing spectrwe that is anti-social beheaviour or misuse looms large and this brings increased costs that councils have to find.

But the fact remains that publicly accessible toilets are an essential and vital piece of the local infrastructure and they play a very significant role on attracting footfall and increased revenues into local neighbourhoods and shops. Where we encounter well maintained and fully functioning facilities it is no suprise to find that shops and local amenities are thriving. All the major shopping centres and leiusure complex’s have excellent facilities because they understand the value of the customer experience. If we want to regenerate our high streets and local neighbourhoods then we have to invest in decent clean public toilets to: not only bring the users into the area – but make sure they can spend time shopping and enjoying the shops, parks and family amenities that councils spend so much time and money installing to develop healthy communities and social inclusion.