St Agnes Parish Council is pleased to announce that the new contactless payment system will shortly be introduced at the public toilets at Trevaunance Cove.
The Council remains committed to providing clean, safe and well-maintained public toilet facilities for both residents and the many thousands of visitors who enjoy our parish each year. However, the cost of operating these facilities continues to rise, with cleaning, repairs, utilities, waste disposal, consumables and ongoing maintenance all funded through local Council Tax.
During the busy holiday season, a significant proportion of people using the toilets are visitors who do not contribute towards these costs through local taxation. Introducing a modest 50p charge per visit helps ensure that those using the facilities contribute towards their upkeep, making the system fairer for everyone.
Income generated from the payment system will be used directly to help fund the running, cleaning, maintenance and repair of the public conveniences, including the cost of dealing with vandalism and misuse. This additional income will help safeguard these important community facilities for years to come and reduce the financial burden on local residents.
Payment will be by contactless bank card or compatible smart payment device only. Access for disabled users will continue to be free using a valid RADAR key.
Residents’ Lifetime Access Card
To ensure parish residents do not effectively pay twice for these facilities through both Council Tax and individual use, St Agnes Parish Council offers a Residents’ Lifetime Access Card.
For a one-off payment of just £10, eligible residents receive a lifetime card providing unlimited access to all St Agnes Parish Council public toilets operating the contactless payment system, including both Trevaunance Cove and Porthtowan. As additional sites adopt the payment system in the future, these will also be included, ensuring your card continues to provide excellent value for years to come.
The £10 fee covers the cost of producing the plastic access card and administering the scheme. Providing free cards to every resident would cost in excess of £85,000, which would ultimately need to be funded through Council Tax. This approach ensures that only those residents who wish to use the scheme contribute towards its administration.
Residents who use the toilets regularly are likely to find the card represents exceptional value, while those who only use the facilities occasionally may prefer to simply pay 50p as required.
Residents’ Cards are available to purchase from the Parish Council Office. Please bring proof of identity and proof of your address within the parish, such as a driving licence and a recent Council Tax bill.
To make obtaining a card even more convenient, the Parish Council will also be holding Residents’ Card registration and collection sessions at Trevaunance Cove. Dates and times for these sessions will be announced shortly through the Council’s website and social media channels.
We appreciate that introducing a charge is a significant change, and we thank residents and visitors for their understanding and continued support. This investment will help ensure that these valuable public facilities remain open, clean, well maintained and available for everyone to enjoy, while helping to keep the financial burden on local Council Tax payers as low as possible.