South Jesmond has fewer public toilets than other areas of Newcastle, with only one accessible facility in Jesmond Dene – a shortage experts warn is part of a national decline in public toilets that is contributing to “the death of the high street”.

Newcastle City Council currently operates only a handful of public toilets across the city, most of which are concentrated in central areas or larger public parks.

In South Jesmond the only accessible public toilets are located in Jesmond Dene, outside the main residential and commercial area of South Jesmond meaning that residents and visitors must rely on cafes, pubs and other private businesses for use of facilities.

Raymond Martin, managing director of the British Toilet Association, who campaign for better standards for public toilets nationally, said the problem extends far beyond Jesmond. He said local authorities across the UK have been closing public toilets due to budget pressures, particularly since Covid-19, resulting in widespread inaccessibility.

“There’s no legal requirement for public toilets,” said Martin, “it’s up to every council to decide how many public toilets they want, where they’re going to put them, and how they are going to run them.”

With limited resources available many councils simply do not have the funds to install and maintain accessible facilities. Martin argued that public toilets should be treated as an essential service given the number of people that require them daily.

Martin told JesmondLocal: “There are 16 million people on the disabled register.” He added: “there are another 11 million people over the age of 55 who need toilets urgently when they need to go for medical conditions, nevermind the lorry drivers, bus drivers, the shoppers and the kids going to and from school.”

Campaigners and charities warn that the lack of public toilets isn’t just an individual inconvenience but it part of a wider, national problem. Martin believes this discourages people from spending time in town centres and high streets, he stated this contributing to “the death of the high street.”

One Jesmond resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I am lucky that I am usually only passing through Jesmond on my way to uni where I know that I can use the toilet. However, I imagine that for families with children spending time in Jesmond it could be a problem.”

However, South Jesmond councillor Sarah Peterson said the issue has not be raised by residents so far.

“The lack of public toilets hasn’t actually come up in conversation so far,” she said. “As such, I am not currently aware of any plans to increase the provision for public toilets in Jesmond.”

To check for public toilets in your area you can check the UK toilet map by clicking here.

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