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At the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) Annual Meeting on June 4, 2026, members overwhelmingly passed a resolution to form the basis of upcoming national campaigns: Accessible public toilet facilities (95% in favour)
This resolution is a call for accessible, clean, free public toilets which are fundamental to inclusion and wellbeing, especially for women, older people, disabled individuals, parents and carers. It invites WI branches to take meaningful action—through advocacy, partnership, and community engagement—to support local authorities and civil society in reversing the closure trend and ensuring dignity for all.
Five WIs from Weymouth attended the July Weymouth Council Meeting regarding charging for public toilets. Amanda Paul from Weybay spoke on behalf of the Wis asking why the Council are planning with this proposal.
Sheila Vogwell President of Weybay WI reports: Praise goes to Amanda for speaking so well in front of a full Council meeting, well done Amanda.
I am pleased to say the Council have changed their decision slightly, to look at each toilet block on a case-by-case basis when refurbishing starts. This is not entirely what we would have liked as we would have wanted the decision to have free toilets for all. Amanda and I are in the working party with the other Wis and have a meeting planned on 17th August to take things further.
Amanda's question to the Council
Why are you planning with this proposal to discriminate against most of the population, for example, that do not have credit/payment card (nationally approx. 11 million do not have one), the homeless, (nationally 382,618 at the last count) the 64,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer whom have urinary incontinence, nationally the 5 million people that experience over active bladders, nationally the 6 million diabetics that have urinary issues, the people that purposely don't drink to avoid needing a toilet (causing confusion, falls for example). The list goes on regarding health, safety and hygiene issues. Just to manage the 1% vandalism you have quoted. These are the people that come to Weymouth to have a happy, relaxing holiday.
Radar keys are not the issue; there is only one or two disabled toilets distributed about the town. Can you imagine the queues. People already have been denied access to toilets in cafes, shops with notices refusing access to toilets and town pub's
It is a human right to be able to go to the toilet in a safe environment, and your planned action is denying everyone that right human right.
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