Councillor Newcombe has requested that an item be placed on the agenda in the following terms:-
“This Committee agrees that a modern, sustainable public toilet be considered an essential part of the canal basin regeneration, taking into account the increased public footfall of the development”
Members are requested to determine how they would like the matter to be pursued.
Minutes:
Councillor Smith attended the meeting and spoke on this item having given notice under Standing Order No. 44.
Councillor Newcombe had requested that an item be placed on the agenda in the following terms:-
“This Committee agrees that a modern, sustainable public toilet be considered an essential part of the canal basin regeneration, taking into account the increased public footfall of the development”
She stated that the Quay area was increasing in popularity with a vibrant Piazza Terracina, various tourist attractions and walks along the River and Canal and would benefit greatly from the provision of a public toilet. Furthermore, the traders in the area were becoming increasingly annoyed with the public asking to use the toilets on the premises.
Councillor Smith stated that there had been a call for a toilet facility during discussions with stakeholders some 5/6 years ago on the development proposals for the Quay. The revised development plans for the area would still lead to increased public activity. The change in the Park and Ride bus route was also having an impact. He believed that enquiries regarding toilets was one of the most frequently made requests by tourists in any town or City and stated that Alphington was one of the few wards in the City without such a facility. He added that the nearest toilet - on the opposite side of the bank beneath the cliff face - was seven and a half minutes walk across Cricklepit Bridge. They could be accessed approximately two minutes quicker by using the ferry but the cost was not insubstantial for a family of four. He also referred to the traders’ concerns. He suggested that funding of new toilets could be partly met through charges and sponsorship from the business community.
The Head of Environmental Health Services showed a plan with details of City Centre public conveniences which showed that the City was well provided with toilets. The nearest to the Canal Basin were beneath the cliff face and comprised two men’s, three women’s and one disabled. A new, modern toilet of a high design standard would however cost in the region of £140,000 with £20,000 annual maintenance costs.
The Cathedral and Quay Car Park and the St Thomas’ Station toilets were the closest toilets adjacent to the Quay. A Member remarked that an improvement was required to the cleanliness of the former.
A Member stated that in a recent West Country Tourist Board survey a recurring comment had been the absence of sufficient signage showing the location of toilets. He felt that an additional toilet facility on the Quay would be beneficial and remove the pressure on traders as well as serving future public events such as Festivals. He asked if cheaper public conveniences could be provided and whether sponsorship was an option. Another Member felt that signage should be addressed but also suggested, in support of a comment of another Member, that walking to public conveniences provided good exercise. Another Member also confirmed that many members of the public had enquired as to availability of public toilets when walking along the Commercial Road area and referred to the now demolished toilets at Willeys Avenue.
It was noted that it may not be possible to include a requirement for new toilets as part of Section 106 Agreement’s relating to developments in the Canal Basin area as these might have now been completed as part of agreed schemes. The Director Community and Environment stated that the cost of new French style toilets was prohibitive. She stated that the location of toilets were set out in new City Centre plans and that benchmark comparisons with other Cities showed that Exeter compared favourably with other Cities in terms of the number of public toilets per head of population. The requests for improved signage would be examined and could be taken on board as part of the programme of new signs replacing the finger board signs in the City Centre.
Scrutiny Committee - Community requested:-
(1) improved signage of existing public conveniences; and
(2) the Council to consider the provision of a public toilet on the Canal Basin side of the River.