Review over provision of toilets for women and men

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has launched a review that will help women be assured of the necessary provision of toilets.

Evidence shows that increasing numbers of publicly accessible toilets are being converted into ‘gender neutral’ facilities, causing problems for women and the elderly in particular.

The review, launched to ensure better provision of toilets for women and men, will also look at signage, which should be clearer and use sex-specific language, to avoid confusion.

The technical review, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, aims to consider the ratio of female toilets needed versus the number for men, given the need for women to use always use cubicles, and will address misconceptions that removing sex-specific toilets are a requirement of equality legislation.

It would also take into account the needs of all members of the community, to ensure there is a fair provision of accessible and unisex toilets for the disabled and families with children.

Jenrick said: “The review that I have launched today will help women be assured of the necessary provision of toilets. This is a necessity, and I have listened to the concerns raised by many women and the elderly in relation to this issue. I have launched a review to establish the best way to deliver this as a priority and make sure that women can expect a sense of dignity, security and safety when using facilities. We want to maintain safeguards that protect women and the proper provision of separate toilets, which has long been a regulatory requirement, should be retained and improved.”

The government has already taken a number of steps recently to increase provision of ‘Changing Places’ toilets for disabled people, as well as encouraging councils to open up public toilets following the coronavirus lockdown and increasing business rate relief for public toilets.