British Toilet Association Launches Legalise Loos campaign

Our 2025 campaign for more Publicly Accessible toilets for everyone

There is currently no law mandating central government or local authorities to provide any public toilets and the lack of facilities is inhibiting Labour’s missions for inclusive growth and wellbeing

The British Toilet Association (BTA) has today launched a ‘Legalise Loos’ campaign to make public toilet provision a legal requirement for government and councils. Currently, local authorities are responsible for the provision for public toilets, but this is an optional provision and not a mandatory requirement.

The number of public toilets has reduced a staggering 40% since 2000, impacting both people’s wellbeing and the health of our economy. This affects people of all ages, whether travelling, participating in activities outside, or visiting family, friends and colleagues.

The ‘loo leash’ means that one in five people restrict their travel due to lack of public toilets. 14 million people have incontinence issues; 15 million people menstruate, and 16 million people have a disability.

Lack of toilet facilities damages our high street economy. Research shows that pedestrian friendly investment generates 30% more footfall in town centres and high streets. For instance, in Soho, a lack of public loos costs £4.9m every year in lost revenue. A Royal Society for Public Health report (2019) stated: ‘Public toilets should be considered as essential as streetlights, roads and waste collection, and equally well enforced by legislation and regulations.’

The BTA is calling on the Government to reverse this decline by making toilet provision compulsory for all public organisations. This will bring about real positive daily impact for the vast majority of the population.

Commenting on the Legalising Loos Campaign, Professor Sir Michael Marmot CH, Director at UCL Institute of Health Equity, said:
‘A feature of the Good Society is to provide for peoples basic needs. There are few things more basic than enabling people to go about their business. Access to public toilets is particularly crucial for people with a range of vulnerabilities.’

Raymond Martin, Managing Director, British Toilet Association, said: “Over the last 25 years, we have lost a staggering 40% of our public loos, causing inconvenience and distress to people up and down the country. “Now is the time for action. This Government has an opportunity to reverse recent decline and make public toilets legal by making their provision a duty and not a choice. By spending a penny now, we can safeguard facilities for the future, benefiting local communities and local economies in the long term.”

Liam Conlon MP, said: “The impact of the lack of statutory requirement to provide public toilets is denying people the ability to go to the shops, socialise and live a normal life. I’m delighted we’ve already had positive engagement with the Minister from the MHCLG which I look forward to building on. The law must change now.

ENDS

For interviews, please contact:
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Vice-Chair, British Toilet Association:
lauranjk@gmail.com or Tel:  07977 227195
Raymond Martin, Managing Director, British Toilet Association:
raymond@btaloos.co.uk or Tel: 07799 881763

For more information, please contact:
Rose Marshall, Associate Director, ING Media
rose.marshall@ing-media.com  or Tel: 07922 581876

Follow the campaign here: ADD LINKEDIN AND INSTA HANDLES
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Data sources
The Toilet Paper, London Assembly Health Committee:
https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/the_toilet_paper_london_assembly_health_committee.pdf
The Pedestrian Pound, Living Streets:
https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/media/2t0hyzcm/pedestrian-pound-2018.pdf
Caught Short, Soho Neighbourhood Forum:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61f1555dd65d211cfcc35610/t/6773e2fdfe551a1cacc7
286b/1735648005295/STR_DIGITAL_Dec4+%28optimized%29.pdf
London Loos, Age UK: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bp-assets/globalassets/london/campaigns/out-and-about/ageuk_london_loos_final.pdf
Taking the P***, Royal Society for Public Health:
https://www.rsph.org.uk/static/uploaded/459f4802-ae43-40b8-b5a006f6ead373e6.pdf

About the British Toilet Association
The British Toilet Association’s mission is to represent the interests and aspirations of providers, users and suppliers of all types of toilets and to act as a catalyst for change in the pursuit of standards of excellence in all areas of “away from home” toilet provision and management.
Website: www.btaloos.co.uk   Email: Raymond@btaloos.co.uk
Office Telephone: 02891 477397 or Mobile Contact: 07799881763