Bristol Live readers welcomed the council’s plans to reopen public toilets closed eight years ago, but many questioned how many sites would return and how the spending fits with the council’s £20.84m deficit

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Bristol Live readers welcomed the discussion of reopening public toilets but debated cost, priorities and what it means for the council’s budget. Some praised the move as long overdue. Others warned the money is tight and questioned how many sites will actually return.

Reopening public toilets and protecting cultural grants are among the significant changes to Bristol City Council’s budget for the next financial year. Next month, councillors are due to approve the budget setting out how hundreds of millions of pounds will be spent on local services from April.

Six amendments to the planned budget have just been revealed. The council will “invest in the work needed to put us on the path towards reopening public toilets”.

Eight years ago, more than a dozen public toilets closed in Bristol, an unpopular move followed by complaints of public urination.

Limited details are available at this stage on how many toilets will be reopened, but £270,000 is planned for the budget. Several supported the principle.

One reader, 6470 asks: “How many were shut down and how many can still be used as toilets. The council will be able to keep business rates, but the grant from the government will go down Let’s hope it’s on the positive side. If the government is going to let the rates be changed, how about a small contribution from students and shops who do not pay rates?”

Magrathean believes: “Great idea to reopen/create public toilets again. They are a sign of a civilised and developed society. They are needed. They should never have been closed. 270k isn’t going to go far, though. I would like the 635k for cultural development to be added to the pot as well.”

BMushroom agrees: “Great to see the council reopening the toilets that the previous Labour run council closed to fund their vanity projects. Looks like a change of administration is a good thing.”

Downtowngirl adds: “Great to see a positive turnaround, good for elderly, disabled, and people who work as drivers, bin men, etc, who at present do not have any facilities. How many have been redeveloped, though, is the question?

Jacksthelad04 comments: “Investing ‘in the work which will put us on the path to opening public toilets closed under the previous regime’ is somewhat vague. The spending commitments reported are relatively small and don’t give much of an insight into how the £20.84 million deficit earlier reported for 2026-27 will be managed in the budget (leading to a £117 million deficit by 2030-31). What BCC gains in keeping business rate revenue seems to be lost in reduced central government grant.”

Jacksthelad04 replies: “Of course, the deficit by 2030-31 may well include the council’s SEND deficit, currently off its accounts due to statutory override, but will be back on its books by then.”

Do you believe the council will actually reopen some public toilets? Comment below or HERE to join in the debate.