Public Facilities Grant Scheme

Businesses across Neath Port Talbot can tap into a £17,500 grant to open up their toilet facilities to encourage the public to use them.

This year's Public Facilities Grant Scheme proposes to give businesses a one off payment of up to £500 per premises to allow the public to use them. Any business can apply for this grant, pubs, hotels, cafes, community centres and sports centres.

Before the council can give out the grant to businesses they will have to go through a test to see if the current facilities have met acceptable standards of safety, hygiene, provide disabled access and toilets for both men and women.

If they are successful the businesses will be awarded the grant and will be listed on the council's website www.npt.gov.uk so that members of the public can be made aware of the locations and opening times.

"Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Ali Thomas, said, "We have worked closely with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to provide this grant which will benefit not only the public but businesses as well across the county borough.

"The council will provide bilingual signs for the businesses to display outside the premises notifying the public of the facilities on offer and opening times. It is also a condition that the businesses allow public access free of charge.

"The council will inspect each business to ensure that the facilities are within the grant conditions and failure to comply will mean that the council can recover the grant."

If any business is interested in applying for this grant or you need more information then please contact Ken Harding, Facilities Manager on 01639 686996 or e-mail k.harding@npt.gov.uk by the end of September.