Town's toilets could return to council control

Public toilets in Whitby could be brought back under public control after years of operating at a loss.

The town council has identified direct management of its public conveniences as its preferred option when the current management contract ends next July.

The authority said the move would save money, improve standards and give the council greater control over the facilities based at New Quay Road, Pier Road, West Cliff, Abbey Headland, Market Place and Ruswarp.

At a meeting, members agreed to develop a detailed business case examining the financial, operational and staffing implications of bringing the service back in-house.

Councillors were told a review had found the public toilets had become a financial burden despite generating an annual income of between £179,000 and £228,000.

The review concluded the toilets had "never made a profit" and had "never been cost neutral" with the council spending £85,923 more than it received from the facilities between 2018 and 2024.

The council also approved a £24,545 programme of surveys across its six public toilet blocks and other council-owned properties, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The work will include building condition surveys and asbestos assessments designed to help inform future investment decisions.

Councillors heard that significant refurbishment and modernisation work would be needed regardless of whether the toilets remained under external management or were brought back to council control.

The council said its assessment would consider staffing requirements, operational arrangements, transition costs and service standards ahead of any final decision.

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