Talks have taken place in Ripon this week to resolve concerns caused by new technology that automatically locks public toilets.

North Yorkshire Council, which manages more than 90 public conveniences, introduced the technology this year to save money.

Loos across the county are open from 8am to 6pm in winter and from 8am to 8pm in summer and then automatically locked. Previously, council staff inspected and locked the facilities. 

But the new system posed a threat to nighttime events that require access to public toilets.

Ripon was at particular risk, because the cathedral does not have public toilets and relies on the ones in nearby Minster Gardens. Likewise, the toilets in Spa Gardens and the Wakeman’s House Café are required for events such as this weekend’s Winter Wonderland and the New Year’s Eve free party in Market Place.

The move therefore posed a threat to all businesses that rely on the nighttime economy and Café in the Park, which hosts summer evening events in Spa Gardens, was directly in the line of fire.

Café in the Park's staff and customers are able to use the nearby public toilets as part of the firm's agreement with the council.

Owner Jane Askut said:

“We would have been utterly stuffed if it had gone ahead. It also threatened to undermine the work we have been doing with Ripon Business Improvement District to make the spa quarter more of a destination."

Ms Askut raised concerns with Councillor Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who represents Ripon Ure Bank and Spa. Cllr Brodigan immediately arranged a meeting with interested parties at which she said she “alerted council officers to the problems that this decision had caused”.

The council consequently gave Ms Askut a fob that overrides the automatic locking system. But the fob must be used every time someone enters the toilets — hardly ideal for mass participation events such as the Winter Wonderland.

After further talks, a council worker reprogrammed the technology at the Spa Gardens toilets on Tuesday (December 16) so they can be set to stay open longer. The action removed the threat of Riponians being caught short at the three-day Winter Wonderland, which gets underway on Friday.

Wider concerns

Ms Askut praised Cllr Brodigan and Lilla Bathurst, manager of Ripon BID, for helping. 

But wider concerns remain. Now nobody inspects the toilets before they close and if someone collapses in them with, for instance, a heart attack, they would not be spotted by a council worker locking the site and would be unable to get out if they regained consciousness after the toilets had automatically locked.

“If one person pegs it because of the system, then it will have failed,” Ms Askut said. Another problem with the new system, she said, was that it does not cater for disabled people.

Ms Bathurst said she hoped any outstanding issues could be ironed out in time for the various Christmas and New Year's Eve events in the city. “Whilst North Yorkshire Council have had some teething problems with the new locking system and the fobs they have been working really closely with everyone to get the issues resolved,” she said.

A council spokesperson said it introduced the technology this year after discussions with stakeholders, including the cathedral.

The spokesperson added: 

The spokesperson said the council was in discussions with the cathedral and other key stakeholders “to address any specific issues relating to the public toilets”.

They added:

“We are committed to ensuring that the facilities continue to be available to support the city’s programme of events.”

The cathedral declined to comment, but it seems most Riponians can enjoy the festivities without having to worry about the call of nature.