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Significant decline in London public toilet availability leaves residents constrained by “loo leash”

Three times as many public toilets have been closed as have been opened across London since the 2013/14 financial year, Age UK has revealed.

The UK’s leading older people’s charity found that there were 650 public toilets across the 30 local authorities that responded to a Freedom of Information request, averaging just under 22 per local authority.

Age UK is now calling on all local authorities, the Mayor’s Office, Transport for London and the government to take action to improve public toilet availability, after the discoveries detailed in their ‘Lifting the lid’ report.

The charity has campaigned for improved public toilet provision since 2022, highlighting its importance for older people and those with health conditions.

Cornelius McAfee, 71, a retired history teacher, was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005, and again in 2016.

Prostate cancer can cause increased urinary frequency and urgency.

A resident of the Borough of Islington, McAfee said he needed to use the bathroom much more after having radiotherapy, often relying on public toilets when he was out.

He said: “To my total shock and horror, there weren’t any.”

McAfee, a keen cyclist, said he and many others are bound by the “loo leash”, an anxiety or inability to go out for fear of not being able to access a toilet.

He said: “It became a tremendous worry.”

McAfee started working with Age UK in 2022, and has since leafleted and petitioned across Islington for better public toilet provision.

He also spoke at the London Assembly that same year.

McAfee said many of the public toilets claimed to be available on the Islington Council website do not function, are in poor condition, or are full of rubbish.

He said there were only 3 out of 8 toilets functioning at one point, despite the council’s promise to replace all toilets 2 years ago.

McAfee said: “We live in a supposedly modern and civil society.

“Where are people meant to go?”

Councillor Sheila Chapman, Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion at Islington Council, said: “As we have announced previously, we have allocated £1 million to replace the old Automated Public Toilets in Islington that are currently out of order or nearing the end of their lifetime.”

Chapman said there are public toilets at Newington and phased enabling works for the installation of new automated toilets commenced in September 2024 at Highbury Fields, Highbury Crescent, and Islington Green, with works on the other three toilets starting shortly.

public toilets london
Islington town hall. Image Credit: Richard Rogerson via Wikimedia Commons

She encouraged residents and visitors to use the Toilets4London app, where users can find toilets across the borough, but McAfee said many elderly residents do not have smartphones to access it.

However, Chapman said there is a printable version of the map available as a handout, which can be picked up at libraries, leisure centres and council offices.

She said there are new Changing Places facilities at the Brickworks Community Centre and at 222 Upper Street, with ones at Sobell Leisure Centre and Islington Green due to be completed early this year.

John McGeachy, Campaign Manager, Age UK London said: “Public toilets are essential for a civilised and welcoming city.

“For older people, those with health conditions and many others, the availability of public toilets can determine whether they feel able to leave their homes.”

The charity’s Public Toilets in London report, released in 2022, revealed 81% of respondents thought public toilet provision in London was bad.

It also showed 52% avoided drinking water before visiting certain places.

McGeachy said: “We’ve known provision has been declining in London and across the country for a long time, but this new report means we have a much clearer picture about the scale of decline.

“We urge all relevant bodies to take immediate action to address this pressing issue.”

Twelve London councils have implemented Community Toilet Schemes (CTS), in which participating businesses make toilets available to non-customers.

The request found the scheme varied greatly in size across the capital, ranging from four to 92 toilets.

Fifteen of the 30 local authorities said they were unable to provide information on expenditure for public toilets, which Age Uk said makes it challenging to draw definitive conclusions about changes over time.

It also revealed only two local authorities had a public toilet strategy, but some were developing new ones.

Age UK said it believes all authorities would benefit from a tailored strategy to coordinate across council departments.

It shared four recommendations for the government and local authorities to implement, including improving signage, developing public toilet strategies, supporting community toilet schemes, and calling on the government to fund councils for public toilet provision.

Image credit: Age UK

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