Cotswold District Council has dismissed claims that it could introduce dynamic pricing for public toilets, which would have seen charges vary between summer and winter. The idea was considered during the budget-setting process but was not implemented.
Dynamic pricing considered and rejected
Minutes from a meeting of the council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee show officials discussed seasonal increases in cleaning to cope with higher usage. The minutes state: "Seasonal increases in cleaning were identified as a possible approach to reflect higher usage, and this would be explored further with the contractor. The concept of dynamic pricing between summer and winter was a potential option, though no commitment was made and further consideration would be required."
However, a council spokesperson confirmed the approach was dropped. "As part of the recent budget review, the charge for using public conveniences was increased from 40p to 50p. This change came into effect on 1 April 2026," they said. "The option of introducing dynamic pricing was considered during the budget-setting process. However, as each price adjustment incurs an associated cost, it was decided not to implement this approach at this time."
Current charges and costs
The council operates 11 public convenience sites across the district, of which 10 are subject to a usage charge. Northleach is the only site that remains free of charge and is currently in the process of being transferred to Northleach Town Council.
Current toilet charges do not cover the full cost of running the facilities, meaning the service requires a subsidy from the council. Officials said any future changes would have to strike a balance between recovering those costs and the pressure already facing households from the cost of living.
Wider context
The council is also examining whether more frequent cleaning could be introduced during busier periods, while alternative sources of funding for accessible toilets have been discussed. The prospect of variable toilet charges comes as councils across the country look for ways to keep public conveniences running despite pressure on local authority budgets.
Separate discussions have also taken place in Sefton, which includes the seaside resort of Southport, around new payment technology for public toilets. But Sefton Council has said there are no plans to introduce dynamic pricing, despite technology being capable of allowing charges to be varied, according to GB News. A council spokesman said: "Although the council is not obliged to provide public lavatories, we know they matter to people and we are committed to keeping them high quality, affordable and accessible."
