Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services has claimed this week that the Local Authority is doing ‘everything in its power’ to keep as many public toilets open - after PCC was slammed on social media by members of the public and county councillors for even considering closing such facilities in areas that attract tourism.

The County Council has stated this week that its plan for the future of public toilet facilities prioritises keeping as many conveniences open as possible.

Back in February, the bleak position faced by public toilet provision in the county was highlighted in a report to Cabinet.

It said 30-plus toilets -many in seaside towns and villages – could be under threat of closure from November, unless community asset transfers to town and community councils are agreed, or funding streams are identified.

At its meeting on Monday (April 24) Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet approved the Local Toilet Strategy 2023.

A strategy is required under the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 and aims to encourage a broader consideration of options available for the discretionary provision of toilets for public uses.

It is intended to help address the current challenges faced by Local Authorities in continuing to sustain provision during times of substantial financial pressures.

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said: “I know in some quarters this strategy is being seen as a plan to close toilets - it really isn’t that.

“This administration is doing everything in its power to keep as many of these much needed public conveniences as possible open across the county and indeed invest in them.

“We know that toilets are valued as was highlighted not only in the strategy consultation exercise but also through the significant correspondence the council and ourselves as individual members will have received on this matter and that is exactly why we are looking for sustainable operating models for the future.”

A proposal to use car parking income to fund, and therefore secure the future of, around 20 toilets in or near a Council car park was previously agreed by Cabinet.

Second Home Council Tax Premium monies will be utilised to keep open the rest of the network until November 2023 at the earliest while negotiations with stakeholders including the National Park continue.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting Cllr Paul Miller, Deputy Leader, made clear his support for keeping as many as possible of the council toilets open.

He added: “It’s clearly not reasonable for some other organisations to receive, in some cases tens of thousands of pounds, of income from car parking, and in some cases additional rental income, but expect PCC to pay for the public conveniences in those car parks.

“That’s not fair to Council Tax payers and I hope through sensible discussion they come to see this.”

Included in the strategy is the ability for the Local Authority to close some toilet facilities where alternative funding, including other public bodies, cannot be found but it is stressed this would be a last resort.

The draft strategy was published on the Have Your Say section of the Council’s website from February 1 to March 1 with online and hard copy response forms available and a total of 226 responses were received.

Two petitions have been set up calling for the County Council to rethink any closure plans.

One started by resident Carl Shutt states: “The closing of public toilets in Pembrokeshire will not only effect the 150,00 residents but will impact on the 7 million tourists who visit each year. It will be hugely detrimental to the economy.

“Children, people with disabilities, and the aged can't afford to spend the time, are unable and will be unwilling to find hospitality venues even if they are welcome.

“There are other services that could be cut. Pembrokeshire County Council have previously been proliferate with benefits paid to officers and other undemocratic spends.”

Mr Shutt has sent his petition to PCC’s chief executive Will Bramble and leader David Simpson.

A full list of public toilets under review include facilities for the following areas across the county: Abercastle, Abereiddy, Amroth East, Angle, Bosherston, Burton, Broad Haven, Millmoor Way, Carew, Cresswell Quay, Cwm Yr Eglwys, Dale, Freshwater East, Kilgetty, Little Haven, Manorbier, Marloes, Moylegrove, Newgale South, Newport Beach, Newport Parrog, Neyland, Nolton, Penally, Poppit Sands, Porthgain, Pwllgwaelod, Saundersfoot, Solva, St Brides, St Davids Bryn Road, St Davids Oriel Y Parc, Tenby North Beach, Tenby Upper Frog Street, Wisemans Bridge.

With two of Tenby’s toilets alongside North Beach and in Upper Frog Street under threat, County councillor for the seaside town’s North Ward, Cllr Michael Williams recently told the Observer: “I find it amazing that we should even consider the withdrawal of such a basic service.

“We claim to be a civilised society, which is becoming more and more difficult to substantiate.

“The reduction of such a basic service would be in direct contravention of the Wellbeing act of 2015. Every year I travel to some of the most poverty-stricken Nations on Eastern Europe, not even these so-called poor states seek to reduce such basic services.

“We claim to be a civilised society, and to even consider the withdrawal of such services must seriously make us question such a claim.

“We spend huge sums of money each year attracting tourists, have we any right to do if we fail to offer basic civilised facilities?

“If we value these visitors, and I am afraid that we cant do without them, we must offer basic services,” he added.