Good Morning Britain Appearance

What a privilege it was to represent the British Toilet Association on Good Morning Britain this morning.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lee East, whose personal story about being fined for urinating in a lay-by due to his poor prostate health has highlighted a much bigger issue, the ongoing loss of public toilets across the UK.

 

With around 50% of public toilets having closed in the last 10 years, it is a conversation that urgently needs to be had. During the discussion, I highlighted that 14 million people in the UK, almost 1 in 5 of us, live with bowel or bladder problems, while around 3 million men are affected by an enlarged prostate. These figures alone demonstrate just one group of people who rely on access to public toilets every day. When you also consider older people, pregnant women, families with young children, disabled people, and those with other medical conditions, it becomes clear that accessible public toilets are not a luxury, they are an essential public service.

 

This message aligns so closely with the work we do through the Loo of The Year Awards Ltd. For nearly four decades, the Awards have been championing the importance of providing clean, safe, accessible and well-managed toilet facilities, while recognising those organisations that invest in raising standards. Education and awareness have always been at the heart of what we do.

 

The British Toilet Association has also been campaigning for many years, calling on the Government to develop a national strategic plan to improve and increase the provision of public toilets. Unfortunately, there is currently no legal requirement for local councils to provide or fund public toilets, leaving many authorities unable to prioritise this essential service despite the growing need.

 

It was wonderful to meet Lee and hear his story first hand. His courage in speaking out is helping to shine a light on an issue that affects millions of people every day.

 

A huge thank you to Suzannah Reid and Ed Balls for welcoming us onto the sofa and giving this important issue a national platform. Every conversation helps raise awareness that access to clean, safe public toilets is about health, dignity, inclusion and enabling people to live their lives without fear or embarrassment.

Together, we can keep this conversation moving forward and continue making the case that public toilets are not a luxury, they are a necessity.