Borough Council Announces Community Toilet Scheme in Bedford Town Centre

Bedford Borough Council is pleased to announce the launch of the Community Toilet Scheme in Bedford town centre.

The Community Toilet Scheme will increase the number and enhance the network of toilets in convenient locations for shoppers and visitors.

The scheme enables local businesses such as pubs, restaurants and shops to work with the Council to make more toilets available to people in the town centre.

A number of businesses have already signed up and will soon be displaying the 'Community Toilet Scheme' sign in their window. The signs mean anyone, not only paying customers, can use the toilets inside the premises.

Lib Dem Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for the Environment and Transport, said: "Bedford Borough spends £365,000 every year to provide a network of public toilets, including in the town centre and local residents can be proud that we are looking to enhance the number of good quality facilities in Bedford when a significant number of toilets have closed or allowed to deteriorate across the UK.

"The Community Toilet Scheme will further increase the number of good quality public toilets available to everyone in the town centre and provide wider coverage in opening times and locations.

"In addition, we are investing in our public toilets in the near future. We are spending £170,000 to modernise and refurbish the toilets under Allhallows car park, as part of the £8million bus station redevelopment. We are also looking to install a new 24-hour Automatic Public Convenience near to the Lurke Street car park."

The first businesses to sign up to the Community Toilet Scheme are Beales, Cafe Portioli and The Fountain. In addition, the council provides public toilets at Number Thirteen Licensed Bar and Café and The Higgins Bedford when it opens in June this year.