CCTV to be installed in vandalised Builth Wells toilets

Builth Wells Town Council reported on Sunday, September 20, that the town’s public toilets located at The Groe car park have again been targeted.

Not only this, but the town’s other public toilets, located outside the town council headquarters, at the Strand Hall, were also vandalised.

In terms of The Groe toilets, the community has lost count of the amount of times these vital facilities have been damaged in recent years.

“Groe and Strand Street toilets have again been subjected to vandalism,” the town council said, in a post on its Facebook page on Sunday morning.

“This has been reported to the police as it’s now becoming an ongoing situation.

“It’s saddening for town council members that our community have to suffer by a small minority of individuals who think that it is okay to destroy and damage property.

“In the next couple of months we will be installing CCTV cameras just inside both toilets and we hope that this will cause some deterrent to those who persist in damaging our public toilets.”

In August last year, the council announced that The Groe toilets would be closed during the Royal Welsh Show period this year, due to sustained damage caused during the 2025 annual event, held every July.

Members of Builth Wells Town Council voted unanimously in favour of a proposal to close the Groe toilets during the Royal Welsh period at a full meeting of the town council in August 2025.

Powys County Council were instead asked to provide portable toilets for the show week period.

“At the full town council meeting held on Tuesday 12th August, the issue of the damage caused to the council-managed toilets during and immediately after the Royal Welsh Show in July, together with its knock-on effects, was discussed in detail,” read a post on the Builth Wells Town Council Facebook page at the time.

“It was noted that the damage caused was still being repaired, which has resulted in the toilets being closed at times to carry out works. This has also had the effect of adding an extra and unnecessary workload on council staff, taking them away from their core duties.

“Additionally, the state of the toilets has had a knock-on effect on events in the town which rely on them being open for attendees and other visitors.”

The town council said previously that The Groe toilets cost around £50,000 to maintain each year.

The toilets, situated centrally in the Groe car park area of town, are used regularly by local residents, shoppers visiting town and motorists passing through, using both the busy A470 and A483 trunk roads.

In terms of The Groe toilets, the community has lost count of the amount of times these vital facilities have been damaged in recent years. (Image: Unknown)

In May 2024, The Groe toilets were damaged just over 24 hours after they had reopened following a £10,000 refurbishment.

The toilets reopened on Monday, April 29, 2024, but by Wednesday, May 1, had yet again been vandalised.