Electronic payment systems to be installed in district toilets

Published: Tue 14 November, 2023

Work to allow electronic payments to be taken in Coalville and Ashby’s public toilets is due to start this month.

North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) is upgrading the doors and controls for its toilets to allow for the acceptance of contactless payments as it reintroduces charges.

Work to the toilets in Coalville’s former Market Hall and on Derby Road in Ashby, will start from 27 November and is expected to take two days at each location. The toilets will be closed to allow the work to be completed.

The accessible toilets in both towns will continue to be free for anyone using a RADAR key and will also accept coin payments for those without access to contactless payment methods such as a debit card or apps including Google or Apple Pay.

Before 2019 NWLDC charged 10p for adults to use the public toilets, but this was removed during the pandemic to reduce the need for people to handle money. The council agreed to reintroduce charges for 2023/24 and to increase the charge to 30p in line with neighbouring authorities.

The project is costing £23,400 and will reduce the cost of maintenance and security to run the toilets.

Charges will be introduced as soon as the toilets are reopened.

Councillor Michael Wyatt, NWLDC Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: “We want to ensure value for money for taxpayers across the district, and reintroducing charges for the public toilets will see the cost of the service reduced.

“With more people using electronic payments instead of coins, it is important that we make our public toilets as accessible as possible.

“Our accessible toilets will continue to be free for anyone using a RADAR key, and will provide coin-entry for those preferring to use cash.”