Aberystwyth Town Council is asking residents whether they would support a small council tax rise to keep local public toilets open amid county-wide funding cuts.
Aberystwyth residents are being asked for their views on whether council tax should increase to keep the town’s public toilets open.
Aberystwyth Town Council has opened a public consultation to gather opinions on the future of the four toilet facilities in the town. The move comes as Ceredigion County Council plans to reduce funding for public conveniences across the county due to ongoing budget pressures.
According to the consultation, Ceredigion County Council first approached the town council in late 2023, warning that cuts to non-statutory services — including public toilets — were being considered. Without financial support or a transfer of responsibility, the facilities could face closure.
Since then, Aberystwyth Town Council has been negotiating with the county council and has provided funding to keep the toilets running. Discussions are still underway, but the current proposal is for the town council to take over two sites.
The financial implications are significant. Based on figures from 2024–25, maintaining two toilets — Castle and Park Avenue — is expected to cost around £40,000 per year. This includes cleaning, supplies, maintenance and dealing with vandalism.
If the transfer goes ahead, it would equate to roughly a 6.09% increase in the town council’s budget. For a Band D household, this would mean paying around £9.50 more per year on the town council portion of the council tax (the “precept”). Without taking on the toilets, the projected increase for next year is only 1.19%.
Given the scale of the decision, the town council is asking residents to share their thoughts before councillors consider the matter early in the new year. The consultation will remain open until mid-January, and responses will help guide the final decision.
Residents can take part by visiting:
https://aberystwyth.gov.uk/2025/11/27/consultation-on-the-future-of-public-toilets-in-aberystwyth/
The town council says the consultation aims to gather views from anyone with an interest in the future of the facilities. While councillors will ultimately make the final decision, residents are encouraged to contact them with any additional concerns or comments.
Aberystwyth is not alone in facing this issue. Several town and community councils across Ceredigion have already taken over public toilet management to prevent closures. Earlier this year, Borth Community Council voted to keep one of its two toilet blocks open, describing it as essential for “upholding human dignity” and helping to maintain the village’s Blue Flag beach status, resulting in a small rise in council tax.
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