A consultation will be held on the availability of public toilets in Glasgow as the council looks to improve access.

Glasgow City Council is in the process of developing a public toilet strategy after councillors called for action. It follows a public petition in 2021 — backed by more than 1,300 people — which pushed for more toilets.

A six-week public consultation is now planned before a strategy, with recommendations on how to boost access, is revealed in March next year. It is expected to begin shortly after a council meeting on Tuesday.

The council believes “taking a strategic look at provision across the city would have a positive impact on many people’s experiences of enjoying parks and public spaces”.

“This could be particularly true for pregnant people, people with children, young people, disabled people and people with underlying conditions, all of whom may require more frequent use of a toilet.”

The survey will “assess the current state of public toilet facilities and identify areas for improvement”. Recommendations are expected on alternative provision and the operating models in public buildings, parks and open spaces.

Areas where there is a lack of toilets, including those raised during the consultation, will be considered, as well as “opportunities to maximise public toilet funding”.

The council motion — presented by Cllr Holly Bruce, Greens — was passed in October last year. It stated the “availability of public toilets is an equality and a public health issue”.

Councillors asked for a strategy to be developed by October this year. A report on the progress made since the motion will go before the environment committee next week.

The motion agreed to investigate removing 20p charges for toilets, review opening hours and signs and to work on an awareness programme.

It is believed accessible public toilets in appropriate places can “encourage better community health, recreation, and participation, whilst supporting economic development and improving tourism”.

Currently, the council spends £340,000 a year on public toilet provision. It has earmarked an extra £250,000 from a Scottish Government fund.

Toilets are provided in some parks and within facilities, such as libraries, museums and leisure centres, run by the council’s arms-length body Glasgow Life.

An external provider, Healthmatic Ltd, also operates four automated public toilets at 20p per use. That contract runs until the end of March next year.

At the edge of Queen’s Park, the cafe operates a “shared use building” as part of the Healthmatic contract. Healthmatic sub-lets part of the premises to cafe operator ‘Hugs & Mugs’.

Although the cafe was recently damaged by fire, officials believe this type of operating model can “bring benefits to the council”.

The report adds a “proportion of the rental income received by Healthmatic offsets the council’s revenue costs associated with their service”.

A council spokesman said: “We are currently developing a strategy on the provision of public toilets following the agreement of the full council last year.

“We are looking at how public toilets are operated within the city and what could be done to improve toilet provision.

“Our report to committee recognises that accessible and sustainable public toilet facilities encourage better community health, recreation and participation in the life of the city.

“As part of our consultation we will be engaging with multiple stakeholders who will help ensure our strategy meets the diverse nature and needs of Glasgow population.

“Full details will be published in the near future and we will be inviting input from all sectors of the city.”