Caught short: Glasgow's lack of public toilets 'diabolical' and 'degrading'

Glaswegians have described the city’s lack of public toilets as “diabolical” and “degrading”.

It comes after a survey found that just 5% of the nearly 2,000 people who responded believed there were adequate facilities in Glasgow city centre.

A report published on Tuesday urged the local authority to map existing public toilet locations and ensure there are facilities within a short walking distance everywhere in the city.

It comes after Full Council formally recognised that access to inclusive public toilets is a basic requirement of health, hygiene and personal safety in October 2023.

A survey found that just 5% of the nearly 2,000 people who responded believed there were adequate facilities in Glasgow. STV News

STV News spoke with Scots on the streets of Glasgow on Tuesday, who said the lack of toilets across the city was “degrading” and “diabolical”.

“Virtually next to none, I think it’s awful and I also think of those with disabilities, and bowel issues, they do not have anywhere to go,” one woman said.

She added that some family and friends struggling with going out because the lack of toilets was “degrading”.

58% of respondents said when they did find a toilet, it was either out of service or unclean. STV News

“It’s quite humiliating for people cause there’s none out there, we’ve got one or you’re running to the train station which charges around 50p. It’s quite a long way for people to walk.”

Another man said the situation was “diabolical”, adding: “There’s not enough, it’s really hard to find a toilet in Glasgow unless you go to Central Station.”

The survey also found that 47% of respondents said they couldn’t find their nearest public loo when asked.

Additionally, 58% said when they did find one it was either out of service or unclean.

Glasgow City Council has launched a public toilet strategy, saying it is committed to providing a “sufficient number of strategically located public toilets throughout Glasgow which are open at appropriate times to provide a comprehensive service and a dignified and safe space for everyone.”

Councillor Laura Doherty, city convener for neighbourhood services and assets, welcomed the strategy as a means to improve quality of life among Glasgow’s residents and visitors.

“Having access to public toilets can encourage greater levels of activity and fitness among our citizens by giving people confidence they can take a comfort break when they are out and about,” she said.

Doherty added that public toilets affect decisions people make on where to visit, as well as how long they stay in an area.

“An effective public toilet service can therefore help to stimulate local economies. Money spent on a well-maintained public toilet service can generate spending in a community up to eight times the cost of operating the toilet.”

She continued: “Over the course of this strategy we want to increase the number of public toilets available in the city, end charges where they currently apply and also focus on providing a new, dedicated facility in the city centre.

“There are many other actions within the plan which also aim to improve safety, sustainability and accessibility within the existing provision and we will be looking closely at how we can implement this plan over the next ten years.”