Relief as Nelson businesses let public use toilets without spending

Ever paid for something you don't want or need just to use the business' toilet? Nelson City Council has come up with a new initiative so locals have more free choices of where they go.

It is a scenario most of us can relate to - getting caught short; needing the loo and not being able to find one you can use. 

We end up paying for a coffee just to use the cafe's bathroom, or a bag of chips from the petrol station, just to avoid getting the side-eye from suspicious staff. 

That is all about to change in Nelson at least. The city is launching a new scheme "use our loos", where participating businesses will display a sticker to let the public know it is okay to use their conveniences whether they shop there or not. 

Nelson City councillor Matt Lawrey said the idea was first floated 18 months ago when the council was discussing the need for more bathroom facilities, particularly for its ageing population. 

A manager mentioned a scheme in the UK where businesses offered their bathrooms to the public, whether they purchased an item from the store or not. 

The idea stuck and the 'use our loos' scheme is now being rolled out, with half a dozen businesses already signing up.

The council had not pitched the idea to all businesses yet, but Lawrey was confident more would come on board,

"Good news travels fast in Nelson and we've got a very community-minded business sector so I think we'll have more joining us."

The scheme would be great for older people but also for families, Lawrey said.

Asked whether people experienced side-eye when using a facility, Lawrey said they sometimes did. 

"But it will be nice to change that culture. I always find when I'm at a business and I am a customer and I go to use the facilities, if there is a sign on the door which says 'these loos are for customers only', I always find that a little bit off-putting, so this is trying to do the opposite of that, and I think it's a nice thing to do for your community and it's going to encourage more people to come to town, which is what businesses want."

Lawrey encouraged other councils to also roll out the scheme. 

"I think it's one of those ideas you sort of think 'why didn't we do this ages ago?'. I think it's an interesting sign people are up for it now. Maybe a decade ago people may have thought it was a bit odd, but now people seem to be into it, which I think is a positive sign."