All public toilets operated by Teignbridge District Council will remain open until April 2027, following a decision at a full Teignbridge District Council meeting earlier today (July 29).

However, Teignbridge District Council is keen to transfer its public conveniences to town and parish councils over the next 20 months to safeguard the assets from being closed or sold off when a unitary council takes over as part of a reorganisation of local government.

Teignbridge will also consult with other interested parties where town and parish councils are unable to take on the public conveniences to ensure toilets continue to be available.

The decision came after proposals to potentially close several toilets in the district were met with overwhelming public opposition. More than 7,000 residents signed petitions in Ashburton, Shaldon and Starcross urging Teignbridge to keep the facilities open.

Teignbridge is concerned that when a unitary council, saddled with debt, comes into effect, leaders will seek to strip assets and non-statutory services to help balance the books. It is therefore hoping to transfer assets, such as toilets and parks, to town and parish councils to safeguard their future.

Town and Parish councils have raised concerns that they will not be able to afford to run additional services, previously operated by Teignbridge. Some parish councils would need to more than double their precepts, the local council part of the council tax, to pay for the upkeep of public toilets.

However, in an amended proposal adopted by Teignbridge, councillor Richard Keeling argued that local councils have two years’ worth of precepts and that there are also options for other interested parties to take on assets.

Councillor Keeling thanked the residents that had taken time to sign the petitions and the towns and parishes that had already taken on toilets.