Businesses Offered Up To £500 So Public Can Spend A Penny

Shops, pubs, hotels and other businesses across Bridgend County Borough are to be offered grants of up to £500 a year for making their toilets available to members of the public. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A ‘Comfort Scheme’ is being introduced by Bridgend County Borough Council to make it easier for people to find a convenient loo, without the need to be a customer or make a purchase. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The grants will range from a minimum £300 up to a maximum £500. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The amount that participating businesses receive will depend on a number of factors, such as the number of other publicly accessible toilets nearby, opening hours, cleanliness, how near the facility is to the local community, and suitability for disabled users and baby changing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hywel Williams, the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The Comfort Scheme allows the public to use the toilet facilities within these businesses without any need to make a purchase. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Welsh Government used to fund a similar scheme, which proved popular, so we are pleased to launch our own scheme.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Any businesses that would like to express an interest in the Comfort Scheme should contact Bridgend County Borough Council by emailing cleanupthecounty@bridgend.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​