Proposals for £100 fines for street urination, defecation and dog fouling in York have prompted calls for more public toilets ahead of a decision on enacting them.
The plans for new city-wide fines are set to go before York Council’s Executive on Tuesday, April 22after 4,194 street urination incidents were recorded in 2023-4.
A council report stated the penalties were more reasonable, proportionate and cost-effective means of punishing offenders which avoided lengthy and expensive court proceedings.
But 162 of the 346 people who commented on street urination and defecation penalties in a council consultation said a lack of public toilets was partly to blame.
It comes as the council has been talking to businesses and other organisations about opening their toilets to the public, according to the report.
The report added the scheme could potentially be extended to businesses operating at night if it is successful.
It follows the council’s public protection spokesperson Cllr Michael Pavlovic backed introducing a new public space protection order (PSPO) in November.
Figures showed the 4,194 requests made to York BID to clean up urine from the city’s streets in 2023-4 came alongside 2,058 related to ‘human biohazard fluid’ such as vomit.
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