20p to spend a penny

A 20p charge to use the toilets in Dovedale is being introduced to help play for cleaning and maintenance and to keep the facilities open.

The public toilets in Dovedale are owned and managed by the Peak District National Park and have been free to use since they opened, but the toilets cost £17,000 a year to clean and maintain.

The new charge will be introduced following a refurbishment scheme which will include redecoration, refitting, improved lighting and hot water as well as installing turnstiles to charge 20p for entry.

The work is due to start on Monday February 15 and is anticipated to take four to six weeks to complete. Limited toilet facilities will still be available during the refurbishment.

Emma Stone, Peak District National Park property manager, said: “The last five years has seen a 36 per cent reduction in the National Park’s grant from the Government so we have had to reduce costs where we can and make our assets work harder. Introducing the 20p charge at Dovedale toilets will help cover our annual costs of providing this facility. We hope people will understand this and be happy to pay 20p for the convenience of having a toilet at this popular site.”

Dovedale is owned by the National Trust, the car park is privately owned and operated, but the public toilets are owned and managed by the Peak District National Park. There is no legal obligation for the National Park to provide any toilet facilities at Dovedale.