Loos for you - community toilet partnership pilot scheme begins

A new pilot scheme called ‘Loos for you’ begins this week and is part of the Cheltenham Toilet Partnership scheme.

The council is working in partnership with local businesses and the Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) in order to provide more readily available toilet facilities for visitors and shoppers.

From today, Tuesday 8 December 2020, the pilot scheme will see both the John Lewis Partnership and House of Fraser Cheltenham stores make their toilet facilities available to the public, during normal opening hours, without having to make a purchase. Both retail outlets will be displaying their ‘Loos for you’ sticker provided by the Council, indicating their participation in the scheme and the level of facilities available.

Cllr Chris Coleman, member for clean and green environment said: ‘’This pilot is all about working with the local business community to offer clean, safe and accessible toilets for residents and visitors in the town. The extra convenience will benefit all. The council run toilets will continue to be open as advertised and we hope that in the future if the pilot scheme is successful that more hospitality and retail outlets will join our partnership.

‘’We are keen to have feedback from those using these ‘Loos for you’. Posters will be displayed in each facility, which will have details on how to give us feedback.’’

James Carter, partner and department manager, John Lewis Partnership, said: “We're really pleased to be working alongside the council and other local businesses in joining the Community Toilet Scheme. Access to clean facilities is important for many of our customers and visitors to Cheltenham, and this scheme will really help in maintaining the town as a great retail and leisure destination.”

Belinda Hunt, operations manager at Cheltenham BID said: "We are grateful to John Lewis & Partners and House of Fraser for helping to get this scheme off the ground. We hope that their confidence in the scheme will encourage other BID businesses to get involved and offer their support.

‘’Knowing they can access facilities which are kept to the highest standards will give visitors the assurance they can comfortably go into the businesses. This in turn gives the businesses the opportunity to welcome potential customers who might not otherwise have visited them.”

Further information on Cheltenham toilet partnership scheme and a list of frequently asked questions will be available online www.cheltenham.gov.uk/loosforyou.