To go or not to go: The challenges of UK public toilet provision

Abstract

The United Kingdom's public toilet provision currently faces many challenges. This paper sets out some of the key barriers to providing inclusive toilet provision. We suggest that one of the key challenges provision faces is the taboo of the public toilet and that this contributes to a lack of recognition in the essentials of provision. However, we argue that the taboo around public toilets also affects future funding, not only of the provision itself but extends to research of the provision and it's social and economic necessity. Such research would generate evidence on the importance of public toilets for everyone's successful urban living, but especially from a public health perspective that affects everyone.