Minutes:
Context:
Members were circulated the following information from Mark Emmett, Area Manager, Network Management Division, Department for Economy and Infrastructure, Welsh Government, South Wales Traffic Management Centre for comments or observations;
I’ve been asked to contact you in relation to a proposal we have to close the toilet facilities at the A40 Mitchel Troy rest area.
As you may know, the toilet block has been in place for many years and is currently costing us in the region of £30k per annum for regular/basic maintenance via the SLA the Agent has with Monmouthshire DWO. However, the fixtures and fittings are now beginning to fail and a quote received solely for replacement of the 25-year old automatic hand wash dryers has come in at over £10k. We are also aware that 2 of the toilet cisterns are now failing and will cost around £2k each for full replacement. In addition to the issues linked to the condition and ongoing maintenance of the block, we are still continuing to experience problems with inappropriate use of the building and vandalism.
Consequently, SWTRA have come to WG with a suggestion that the toilet facilities should be closed along with removal of the picnic benches. Having reviewed DMRB standard TA57/87, they have rightly established that picnic areas should have a drinking water supply and toilet facilities and if the toilet block is removed, the Welsh Government may be criticised for not complying with standards and creating a hygiene risk. When we closed the toilets on the A449 at Newbridge-on-Usk (principally due to their inappropriate use), the picnic benches were also removed solely on hygiene grounds, as wash facilities were no longer available.
We appreciate that the removal of any toilet facilities is not ideal, but the decision to consider closure is partly based upon the availability of toilets at Raglan Services (24 hours) and in Monmouth during the day. At this moment in time, there is no programme for closure, but the intention is for all works including demolition to be completed in the current financial year. I understand that the local County Councillor may already be aware of this proposal via discussions with DWO staff and they were led to believe that all public toilet facilities including those at Mitchel Troy were under the ownership/management of the Council.
We received the following response from local Member County Councillor Richard John;
I’ve discussed this with some local residents and community councillors and there were very mixed views. Some felt that with the newly opened services at Raglan that the toilets at Mitchel Troy are no longer required, but others felt strongly that they should be kept open.
Whenever I drive past, they always seem quite busy. Once they are closed, they will never reopen and that’s a local amenity lost. I would be concerned about them becoming even more neglected should they be closed and they could become a focus for anti-social behaviour. If they were closed, what would happen to the building and the lay-by? Would the building be demolished and lawned or just left to ruin?
I think the Welsh Government should keep them open, but I have had views both for closure and retention expressed to me by residents.
Member Scrutiny:
County Councillor Richard John attended the meeting and reiterated his points on the toilets.
A Member raised the point that if the services were closed, that they were removed in their entirety and not allowed to become an eyesore.
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Committee’s Conclusion:
The committee broadly supported the closure of the toilets, although voiced that the closure of any facility was disappointing.
There was strong feeling that in the event of the toilets being closed it would be the responsibility of Welsh Government to ensure the plot did not become an eyesore or a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
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