Bus station toilets could close if vandalism and fee-dodging continues

Blackwood Bus Station toilets could be closed if vandalism and fee-dodging continues, the chair of the Caerphilly County Borough Taxi Drivers’ Association has warned.

The public toilets at Blackwood Bus Station were re-opened in October 2019 after being closed by Caerphilly County Borough Council due to budget pressures.

The taxi drivers’ association stepped in and took over the running of the toilets, but now chair George Edwards has revealed the cost of repairing the vandalism stands at more than £4,200.

Cllr Edwards, who sits on Blackwood Town Council, said there had been “constant problems” with vandalism, with lights smashed and a large number of youths congregating at the toilets.

The issues have been a longstanding issue, with the association warning it could be forced to close the toilets back in February 2021.

He said: “I have been awaiting a visit from the police having reported matters almost three weeks ago, which is shown on the CCTV.”

Cllr Edwards described the issues as “sad and unacceptable” and said if the behaviour continues, he will have to consider “whether it’s worth keeping them open”.

Meanwhile, a total of 9,210 people avoided paying a fee for using the toilets during 2021 – money that would have gone back into the upkeep of the toilets.

“The cost of keeping these facilities open is not cheap,” Cllr Edwards said. “In 2021, the cost of running these facilities and vandalism totals to £14,875.44.”

He said the future of the toilets will be discussed at the taxi drivers’ association’s Annual General Meeting in January.

Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge, who submitted a petition calling on the council to keep the toilets open back in 2019, gave his backing to Cllr Edwards and said he was “appalled” at the vandalism.

In 2019, five public toilets were closed across the borough, but the taxi association has been instrumental in reopening the the toilets at Blackwood Bus Station, as well as the ones near Caerphilly Railway Station and off Dynevor Terrace in Nelson.