London boroughs, the Mayor’s Office, Transport for London and the Government have been urged to improve public toilet provision in the capital.
The call from Age UK London comes after its research found that three times as many public toilets had closed as had been opened in London since 2013-14, with 97 shutting and 32 new facilities opening.
The report also found disparities in provision across the capital. The 30 London borough councils who responded to the research maintain 650 public toilets between them, averaging just under 22 per council, but some manage as few as one, while
Research by the charity in 2022 found that 81% of older Londoners thought public toilet provision in their borough was bad, with 51% saying that they avoided drinking water before going to some places.
Campaign manager John McGeachy said: ‘Public toilets are essential for a civilised and welcoming city.
‘For older people, those with health conditions and many others, the availability of public toilets can determine whether they feel able to leave their homes.
‘We’ve known provision has been declining in London and across the country for a long time, but this new report means we have a much clearer picture about the scale of decline.
‘We urge all relevant bodies to take immediate action to address this pressing issue.’
A London Councils spokesperson said: ‘Although there is support for expanding toilet provision in the capital, the enormous funding constraints facing boroughs mean this can be extremely challenging.
‘We will note the recommendations of this report and continue to work with partners on this agenda.’
