ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

West Lothian Council is considering axing its automatic toilets in view of their "astonishing" cost to the public.

Each flush is costing the council up to nearly £16 because the units are so rarely used, it emerged at a recent meeting.

The 13 automatic toilets are supplied to the council under contract at an overall cost of more than £350,000. Usage required for the council to break even in each unit is between 78,000 and 90,000 flushes a year.

However, average use of each is automatic toilet is 3,833 times per year, with varying figures depending on the location. The cheapest unit to run is in Linlithgow where the cost to the council is £3.02 per use according to latest figures.

But much more rarely used is the Craigshill toilet where usage is around 1,543 flushes per year. The contract for that site cost the council £27,725 for 2022/23 - which works out at £15.62 per customer flush.

Councillor Alison Adamson described the figures as "astonishing". "I don't think anyone would disagree with the fact that that's unaffordable," she said.

Council officers are suggesting that local businesses be asked to open their facilities to the public if the 13 units were to close.

"Consultation will be undertaken with equality groups and communities in the affected areas and we would engage with local businesses with regards to the ‘comfort partner' scheme," states the council report.

"This will include ways of increasing awareness of existing publicly accessible toilet facilities as well as the promotion of comfort partners."