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Toilet deserts warning as public loos decline across England

Fahad Redha

April 21, 2026
3 min read

Toilet deserts warning as public loos decline across England

A report has warned that England faces toilet deserts, with the number of public toilets falling by 14% in a decade. This is harmful to public health. The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), in its analysis, revealed a “significant shortfall” in provisions with 15,481 people for each public toilet in England. By comparison, in Scotland there are 8,500 people toilet, and for Wales, that figurer is 6,748.

The analysis came from 221 FOI requests from 309 councils in England. The number of public toilets was 14% less than in 2016.

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The lack of public toilets, the RSPH warns, is increasing the number of people relieving themselves in public and causing unhygienic conditions. It also created a knock-on effect , it added, with some people avoiding going out if they live in a ‘toilet desert,’ which this impacting high streets.

It is calling for new strategic authorities to have a responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient public toilets, with support from the government. Developers, it added, need to do more, as it calls for regulations that would require public toilets in any new development with non-residential units. Local councils are currently responsible for deciding how many toilets are required in an area.

‘Toilet deserts’ are disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable, according to the Local Government Association. This includes those with disabilities or medical conditions, the elderly, babies and children, and anyone sleeping rough.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.