Open letter demands public toilets are reopened in Bristol

The lack of access to public toilets in Bristol raises issues of equality and dignity and leads to public spaces becoming “effectively open sewers”.

These are the words of campaigners who have written an open letter to the mayor and councillors calling for facilities to be reopened in seven locations across the city and arguing their closure is having a detrimental effect on many people.

Bristol City Council budget cuts in 2018 saw the closure of several public toilets but in recent months, ACORN Bristol has ramped up efforts to get them reopened with a petition gaining more than 2,000 signatures.

The open letter has been signed by representatives of 12 different organisations, including unions, Bristol Older People’s Forum, homelessness charities, Bristol Hospitality Network, British Toilet Association, Bristol Women’s Voice and Moving Bristol Forward. It also calls for a review of public toilet provision across the city so that people in all areas have easy access to the public toilets they need.

“The lack of access to public toilets in Bristol is not simply inconvenient – it raises issues of equality, and of dignity. Lack of toilets has led to the use of public spaces as substitute toilets – effectively open sewers in our city,” says the letter.

“Certain parts of Bristol stink obviously of urine and faeces – in parks, in alleyways, and carparks. This is unacceptable at any time, but even more so during a public health crisis.”

It continues: “During the ongoing pandemic, people crucially need access not only to toilets, but to the handwashing facilities that were locked away alongside them. This issue affects everyone in Bristol, but some groups are disproportionately affected. There are older residents who don’t come into town anymore in case they get caught short and can’t access a toilet. Street sleepers depend on public toilets to maintain dignity and hygiene.

“People with certain disabilities, such as those that require colostomy bags or catheters need to be able to take care of their toileting needs – and if they can’t then they lose the independence of being able to go out. Parents need to take children, who go more frequently, to toilets. Women need toilets to manage their periods and remain sanitary. All these groups would welcome the reopening of the toilets.”

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When a number of the city’s public toilets were closed in 2018, the council implemented a community toilet scheme in their place. The idea was to build a network of local businesses willing to let people use their toilets for free.

But ACORN and other co-signatories argue the community scheme has failed. ACORN members visited half of the participating venues and found they were unable to use 28 per cent of those listed, while 82 per cent of places had no signage to indicate they were part of the scheme. They also report that 65 per cent of the staff asked didn’t know their toilet was listed as part of the scheme.

They point out that many areas, such as St Paul’s, have no toilets of any kind available for people to use.

The letter concludes: “We feel the detriments to our city of keeping these facilities closed far outweighs any financial benefit. The council has sold some of the original 18 toilets – surely this money could be invested in the upkeep of the toilets that are left.”

It calls for public toilets to be reopened at the following sites:

• Greville Smyth Park
• Mina Road Park
• Colston Avenue
• Fishponds Park
• Bridgewater Road/ Bedminster Common
• Blackboy Hill
• Station Road in Shirehampton

Bristol City Council and the mayor’s office have been approached for comment.

Campaigners have ramped up efforts to get public toilets reopened – photo: Arvind Howarth

Main photo: Arvind Howarth

Read more: Call for review of Bristol’s community toilet scheme

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