South Wales Evening Post - 6 April 2006
Planned cuts to spending on public toilets could lead to youngsters being put at risk, according to opposition councillors.
The warning follows a decision by Swansea Council leaders to cut running costs of public toilets by £100,000 a year. The council's director of environment Reena Owen has admitted that it could mean losing full-time toilet attendants.
In a letter to Labour's environment spokesman, Mike Hedges, she said: "The savings in this budget involve £100,000 in 2006/07 and to date two potential areas are being looked at.
"These are firstly to reduce the permanent staffing of certain facilities and utilise instead mobile cleansing arrangements.
"Discussions on the details here are being pursued with the staff concerned and a pilot is planned for May."
Councillor Hedges believes that if full-time attendants are cut it could leave young children at risk.
He said: "Over the weekend, I heard a member of staff say that if the changes went ahead then he would stop his own grandchildren from using unattended public toilets.
"As a parent, I am very concerned that these cuts are being imposed without the public first being consulted.
"The Lib Dem-run coalition needs to start listening to the people who provide the services."
Last month, the Post revealed that some public toilets, including at the Quadrant bus station, are being advertised on websites as good pick-up points for gay men.
The bus station facilities are among those which could lose their attendant.
Castle Ward councillor and Labour Group leader David Phillips said: "I'm naturally concerned this activity is going on in the city centre, in places where children and others who may be offended are going."
John Hague, cabinet member for environment, said that no final decision had been made about how to make the savings.
He said: "I met with the trade unions last week and there has been no decision yet.
"They have asked if we could go back and look at other suggestions to make the savings and I have agreed to do that.
"We are looking into the safety issues that were brought up with regard to attendants in toilets."
