https://chng.it/wX9JNmPk2G SIGN THE PETITION
Gwybodaeth am sefyllfa toiledau Llangrannog wedi bod yn y Cambrian News, Wales Online, Newyddion S4C ar lein, Yahoo News a’r Teifiseid. 1668 yw’r nifer o lofnodion ar y ddeiseb hyd yma.
Info about the threatened closure of the public toilets in Llangrannog has been in the Cambrian News, Wales Online, S4C online, Yahoo News and the TivySide paper. We have 1668 signatures so far.
The Community Council hope to meet with the Council soon to discuss the matter.
Rydym yn eich annog i gysylltu â’ch holl gynrychiolwyr lleol i bwysleisio ein pryderon ynghylch y cynnig hwn – We urge you to contact all your local representatives to emphasise our concerns at this proposal
- AS – Elin Jones: elin.Jones@senedd.wales
- MP – Ben Lake: ben.lake.mp@parliament.uk
- Councillor Gareth Lloyd – gareth.lloyd@ceredigion.gov.uk
- TivySide: yourtivysidenews@tivysideadvertiser.co.uk
The Future of Llangrannog Public Toilets
Ceredigion County Council have presented the Llangrannog Community Council with options for running the public toilets in Llangrannog, or there is ‘a strong possibility they will close’.
The toilets are clearly essential but our small Community Council does not have the time, skills or resources to pay for and/or manage them. Residents are paying more to the Council and seeing less. Tourism is being ignored.
The Community Council has thus far said they will not take on the toilets because they have not been given time or enough information to do so, and do not have the ability. The options from the Council (see below) were presented without any consultation with Community and Town councils.
We are now asking the public to sign our petition, which we will present to the Council in three months’ time (October 2025).
See below the notes for copies of the mentioned documents.
Why the toilets cannot close:
– Extremely negative publicity
– Urdd Camp children will not be able to visit the beach
– Loss of Blue Flag
– No disabled toilet provision anywhere in the village
– Negative impact on businesses being used by non-customers
– People will use the beach/sea as a toilet
Non-statutory service
– Page 6 of CCC’s Toilet Strategy: ‘There is no particular right to access a toilet in public and it is no longer a duty or requirement for Local Authorities to provide Public Conveniences.’
We feel it is, however, an essential service that the Council must run because of the below points:
- Public Protection, Health and Safety:
- Public toilets are a fundamental aspect of public health and safety, particularly in a popular tourist destination like Llangrannog.
- Lack of access to public toilets can lead to hygiene issues, health problems and safety concerns, impacting both residents and visitors.
- CCC has a responsibility to ensure the provision of adequate sanitation facilities for the public.
- Wellbeing of Future Generations Act:
- The Act aims to improve the economic, social, environmental, and cultural well-being of Wales.
- It places a duty on public bodies to act in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- This includes taking a long-term, integrated, and collaborative approach, and involving diverse communities in decision-making.
- By ensuring access to public toilets, CCC can contribute to the well-being of both present and future generations in Llangrannog.
Options (from the Council)
– 1. Lease: We don’t want to be employers, so Option 1 is a no
– 2. Lease/SLA: lease to CC, cleaned by Council, maintained CC
– 3. Asset Transfer: CC/business buys and runs
– 4. Saying ‘No’ to the Council
Integrated Impact Assessment:
– There is no data for Llangrannog’s usage; average data won’t work here
– Ecological impact – there will be, as people use the beach/sea/street if toilets are closed
– Health and Wellbeing of Future Generations Act – not fully discussed here. It IS discussed in the Toilet Strategy p13 and there it is shown they are very necessary.
– ‘they may be able to operate them at a lower cost than CCC’ – no evidence for this statement, which is repeated throughout the report. We find this extremely unlikely, as the Council bulk-buys, streamlines employees etc.
May 2019 CC Public Toilet Strategy – see graph images below
- This was supposed to be re-done five years later but has not been.
- The graphs below show very clearly how the public felt about the issue
- This survey should be re-done before the Council decides to go against its own findings regarding provision of public toilets
What is unique about Llangrannog’s situation:
– Popular year-round
– Flagship beach of the county, often on tourist brochures/OS map covers/VisitWales marketing
– Gwersyll yr Urdd brings 100s of children down every week including summer holidays
– No other disabled facilities
Cost reductions possible:
– Fewer cheaper lights
– Closures during certain months (liaison with Gwersyll etc.)
– Solar panels (grant money)
– Rainwater collection system (grant money)
– Cleaning reduced
– Cleaners not paid extra for weekend/Bank Holiday work
– Closed when there is not enough money to keep open
Money (these are just possibilities the Welfare and Community Council have discussed)
– Raising (doubling) the Community Council precept (£23.92 p/a for Band D currently) which is part of homeowners’ Council Tax bill
– Payment gateways (unpopular and easy to bypass)
– Honesty box
– Sponsorship by businesses
– Contribution from Pwyllgor Lles Llangrannog
– Grant money
Costs that cannot be estimated:
– Repair costs e.g. pipe bursts. This may mean toilets close short-term if repairs cannot be paid for
– Vandalism (although we have not seen any before, it doesn’t mean we won’t, especially if people are frustrated)
– Fly-tipping (a recent issue)
– Exact rise in utility prices etc.
– SLA £9,000 25/26 but may rise
Notes from the Community Council
- CC have set a 2.2% rise in CC charge element per year for last 10 years. This is a lot less than CCC and police rises.
- 2nd home owners had 100% on top rise last year then 50% this year; everything has thus been trebelled (inc police, CC and CCC).
- Prices rise for residents but they are not the main users.
The Community Council and Welfare Committee continue to meet and discuss, and we hope visitors, residents and homeowners will help us take action.
A few stats from the Council’s own survey:
What action would you want to see?