Weymouth's Maiden Street toilets close on 2 November for about five months. Tonight councillors decide whether to charge 50p a visit when they reopen.
The public toilets in Maiden Street, Weymouth, close on Monday 2 November for a full refurbishment that will take about five months.
The block will be fenced off and shut to the public for the whole job, Weymouth Town Council said on 26 October.
When it reopens, using it may cost 50p. The town council’s Environment and Services Committee decides that at 7pm tonight, Wednesday 28 October.
What is being done
The council’s release and its questions and answers sheet list the work:
- the disabled toilets refurbished
- a better ventilation system
- new toilets and urinals fed from the mains, to use water more efficiently
- sensor flushes and sensor taps
- LED lighting, brighter and cheaper to run
The council says the block is being upgraded because of “the significant age and problems with the interior of the old building”. Councillors approved the refurbishment programme earlier in the year.
Work runs Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, with occasional Saturdays. The council warns of noisier periods early on, while the inside is reconfigured.
Councillor Ryan Hope, who chairs the committee, said the closure was “part of Weymouth Town Council’s commitment to improving these facilities across the town over the next few years”.
The 50p question
The committee report for tonight recommends charging once the work is finished. What it proposes:
| Item | Proposed |
|---|---|
| Charge | 50p a use, by card-operated doors |
| Accessible toilet | Stays free |
| Estimated income | About £4,500 to £6,000 a year |
| Card machines | £3,280, already inside the refurbishment budget agreed in May 2026 |
The income estimate is based on what Cove Street toilets take. The report says 50p matches the council’s other paid toilets, and that its three existing paid sites cover their own card fees and maintenance from what they earn.
Officers also say controlled doors should cut “misuse, vandalism and anti-social behaviour”, which the report calls “a historic issue at this location”. The income would not cover the block’s full running costs.
If councillors say no, the card machines are dropped and the £3,280 is saved. The report warns that would leave one refurbished block free and the others paid, which “could create an unclear policy” on charging.
What it means for you
- From 2 November, use the King’s Statue toilets on the Esplanade or the Cove Street toilets instead. The council keeps a full list of its toilets.
- Expect it back around early April 2027, if the five-month estimate holds.
- If the charge is agreed, you will need a card or phone to pay. The accessible toilet will stay free.
- Questions go to the town council at office@weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk or 01305 239839.
The same meeting will also decide the town council’s response to Dorset Council’s plan to allow dogs on Weymouth Beach from 6pm to 6am in summer. If you are heading into town for the fireworks on 5 November, our bonfire night page has the times and the road closure.
Have your say