RESIDENTS have had their say on the condition of Flintshire's public toilet facilities.

Flintshire Council recently asked for the views of the public after making a draft toilet strategy for 2019 available on its website.

The document recognises that the facilities are particularly important to certain groups of people including older residents, people with disabilities, children and young people and their families.

Dave Hill, Mold Town Manager, said: “Mold Town Council has been consulted by the county council over the future of the public conveniences in Mold.

“The county council owns the toilets and they have already withdrawn financial support for the toilets in the Daniel Owen Centre.

“Mold Town Council already provides a financial contribution to the running of the Daniel Owen Centre and it is currently considering its position regarding the town’s other two sets of public conveniences in New Street Car Park and at Mold Bus Station.

“The town council recognises that public conveniences are an essential requirement for any thriving market town.

“What the town council must decide is how many are required, what the cost of maintaining them is and how they can be funded.”

The Leader also asked Shoppers in Mold what they think about the public toilet provision.

Phillip Devlan, 82 from Holywell, shared his thoughts on the situation - particularly about Mold's facilities.

He said: "It is disgusting - there's not enough toilet facilities and it is driving trade away from the town.

"Now there are less of them than ever and they could do with tidying up."

Tina Hammersley, 60 from Mold, said: "I don't think they're up to much, everything needs an upgrade.

"I think they are important for disabled people and people with children.

"They need modernising and there's never enough of them around."

Chris Biggs, 64 from Buckley, said: "They're rubbish - they're not cleaned properly.

"I want to see them kept open because they are important for the elderly who use them."

One shopper, who did not want to be named, said: "I don't think they're too bad in Mold and Buckley, they are in quite good condition."

By law, councils do not have to provide and maintain public toilets directly.

They must, however, take a strategic view on how facilities can be provided and accessed, taking account of such things as location, accessibility, facilities, frequency of use and quality of existing sites, as well as determining whether additional or fewer sites are required by their local population.

To have your say visit www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LocalToiletsStrategy or to see the draft strategy, visit www.flintshire.gov.uk

The closing date for feedback is Friday, April 26.

Flintshire Council was also approached by the Leader for further comment.