Public health implications of inadequate public toilet facilities

The Committee held a short inquiry on the public health implications of inadequate public toilet facilities in winter 2011-2012. The Committee considered the following questions as part of its work:

• what were the effects of public toilet provision (or lack thereof) on the health and social wellbeing of a person?
• was there evidence of people being unable to leave their homes due to concerns over the availability of public toilets? If so, what were the health and wellbeing implications of this?
• were there equality across Wales – and in relation to all people – in the provision of public toilets?

-     how should public toilet facilities address the needs of different groups of people (men, women, disabled people, people with special health needs, children)?

-     was there a particular need for improved facilities for specific groups?

• what could the wider effects of inadequate public toilet provision be on public health and the community? e.g. correspondence sent to the Petitions Committee suggests that there was a risk of street fouling and a consequential spread of disease.

The consultation has now closed.