How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities to ensure public toilets are as accessible as possible?
Local authorities may provide toilets in its area for use by the public, but this is a discretionary power rather than a duty. Local authorities take decisions on non-statutory services and how they allocate their budgets in the context of the breadth of their responsibilities and are accountable to their local populations for those decisions.
Under Part 8 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017, every local authority must prepare, publish and periodically review a Local Toilet Strategy. These strategies must assess community need and set out how toilet facilities for public use will be made available. This requirement is unique within the UK and is intended to ensure that local authorities actively consider toilet provision when making decisions about public services.
The Welsh Government has published statutory guidance to support local authorities, which includes the need to consider accessible toilets, Changing Places facilities, baby-changing facilities and gender-inclusive provision. In addition, building regulations require Changing Places facilities to be provided in specified new buildings.