Key Facts

• Amendments would extend rate relief to publicly-owned libraries and community centres with free public lavatories.
• Amendment would confine rate relief to public lavatories that are free of charge to use.
• New clause requires an assessment of the Act's impact on provision of public lavatories within one year of Royal Assent.
• Public lavatories have closed at an alarming rate since 2010, with over 700 council-run loos closing in eight years.
• The cost to maintain public toilets ranges between £15,000 and £60,000 annually.
• In Blackburn's constituency, up to 15 additional public lavatories could be made available by widening access to existing facilities in community centres, libraries, and town halls.
• The Bill will result in a £80,000 annual saving for North Norfolk District Council.
• There are 39 public conveniences with annual running costs of around £700,000 in North Norfolk.
• A new beach and loos were refurbished as part of a £19 million sand-scaping scheme in Walcott seafront.
• Cley next the Sea parish council raised £36,000 through donations to build its own public loo named Curloo.
• The Bill provides a 100% reduction in business rates for eligible public lavatories.
• Relief applies retroactively from April 2020.
• Central Government will cover the full cost of the measure through grant compensation.
• Estimated cost of the bill in England is £6 million.
• Additional funding of £3.7 billion has been made available to support councils during the pandemic.
• The Bill has cross-party support.
• Local authorities, parish councils, town councils, and national organizations like the National Association of Local Councils and the British Toilet Association have supported this measure.
• The relief applies with effect from April 1st of the current year.