Pop into a pub to spend a penny: New plans to combat closure of Dudley public toilets

Dudley Council is offering businesses in the borough a rates reduction if they allow public access to their loos.

Bosses say the authority's discretionary rate relief policy has been amended for the new scheme which is intended to help areas where council-managed toilet facilities are no longer provided.

A number of public toilets across the borough were closed by the authority a few years ago as part of cost cutting measures aimed at saving up to £150,000 a year.

The cuts hit conveniences in Gornal village, sparking fury from shoppers and traders alike. Council bosses say that while the new policy has been designed with Gornal in mind, it could be applied to anywhere in the borough as long as businesses meet the criteria. To qualify for the rates reduction a council-managed toilet facility located within 500 metres of the business must have closed and no other pub, cafe or restaurant nearby must be receiving a reduction for the same purpose.

Traders in Gornal have been calling for public toilets to be re-introduced since conveniences were closed back in 2011 under the cost-cutting scheme.

A survey looking at the possibility of re-opening the old toilet block revealed it would cost around £20,000 to bring them to up to the required standard.

The first pub to take up the rates reduction is the Red Lion, which is next door to closed public toilets.. Landlord Alan Davies said: "It is an agreement which benefits me and also the community. Public toilets are needed in the village and while there are plans being looked at it didn't offer a solution in the short-term. I am glad this has now been agreed." Councillor Stuart Turner, deputy leader of Dudley Council, said: "The fact there will once again be public toilets in Gornal will be good news for shoppers, residents and traders alike."