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Source : Age Cymru Published on 14 October 2011 11:00 AM
Wales's network of public toilets could disappear for good unless the Welsh Government and local authorities take action to save them.
That’s the warning today from Age Cymru.
The charity is calling for a change in the law so that local authorities have to provide public toilets.
Age Cymru’s Campaigns Co-ordinator Rhea Stevens says:
“With local authorities across the country facing ever-tightening budgets, public toilets seem to be in the firing line when the axe falls and savings have to be made.
“Recent reports that Anglesey and Powys county councils are closing public toilets to save money confirm that this is happening.
“While we sympathise with local authorities as they struggle to make their budgets go that bit further, the buck has to stop somewhere, or Wales’ public toilet network as we know it will disappear for good.
“This is why we’re Welsh Government must place a statutory duty on local authorities to provide clean and accessible public toilets where they are needed.”
Age Cymru’s report of the findings of an audit of communities across Wales carried out using the charity’s Community Calculator tool revealed:
• Across Wales, the average score given to public toilets was 3 out of 10 (poor).
• Across Wales, 54.9per cent of respondents gave their local toilets a rating of 3 out of 10 or below (poor).
• Key issues identified by the report included the lack of public toilet facilities, limited opening hours and overall accessibility problems, cleanliness and hygiene.
Rhea Stevens says:
“Public toilets are a lifeline for older people and they ensure people retain their dignity and confidence to participate in community life.
“Age Cymru feels strongly the long term survival of Wales’ network of public toilets must be secured - this is why we are supporting the Welsh Senate of Older People’s P is for People campaign for a statutory duty to be placed on local authorities to provide clean and accessible public toilets where they are needed.
She concludes:
“The Welsh Government and local authorities must continue to work together to protect public toilets for the benefit of communities across Wales.”
ENDS
CONTACTFor all media enquiries, please contact Iwan Rhys Roberts, Communications Officer – Age Cymru, on 029 2043 1562, 07739 894 923, iwan.roberts@agecymru.org.uk
Rhea Stevens is available to give media interviews – please contact Iwan to arrange. NOTES TO EDITORS
• “Towards Common Ground: Key findings of the Community Calculator ™” was published by Age Cymru in November 2010.
• 830 respondents across Wales returned completed Community Calculators™ between December 209 and March 2011
• Calculators were sent directly to older people and older people’s groups on Age Cymru’s mailing lists.
• We also worked in partnership with a range of organisations to enable as wide a range of older people as possible to participate in this research.
• These included:
o Independent Age Concern organisations in Wales; o Local authorities , including through older people’s champions and Older People’s Strategy co-ordinators;o Communities First groups;o Assembly Members;o Members of Parliament;o Other voluntary and public sector organisations;
• We worked with RNIB to produce and distribute audio copies, and it was also available to download on the Age Cymru website.
• Although the Community Calculator™ was targeted at older people as the primary audience, there was no exclusion from participation in this survey on the grounds of age.
• Respondents were asked to provide basic geographical information about their community and their local authority area.
• They were then asked to rate their community according to the ten factors of an age-friendly community, and were invited to give comments or suggestions relating to each.
• The ten factors measured were: 1) Local amenities, 2) Public transport, 3) Public seating and places to rest, 4) Public toilets, 5) Pavements, 6) Neighbourhood safety, 7) Places to meet, 8) Information and advice, 9) Your home, 10) Your voice.
Set your location to see what Age Cymru offers in your local area.
For all media enquiries about Age Cymru, please contact our Communications Officer, Iwan Rhys Roberts.
07739 894 923
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