Councils
Budgets
Accessibility
UK Council-run Public Toilets: A Decline and What It Means
Across the UK, hundreds of council-run public toilets have quietly vanished — victims of funding cuts, vandalism, and a lack of statutory protection. What began as a proud Victorian innovation is now an overlooked crisis of dignity and accessibility. From older people trapped by the “loo leash” to tourists avoiding town centres, Britain’s shrinking toilet network tells a wider story about how we value public space — and who it’s really for.
Michael Goodall
November 6, 2025
5 min read
