Greyhound Street Toilets: The Truth Behind Nottingham’s “No Two-Tier System”

 

Back in July 2024, Nottingham City Council made the decision to turn the Greyhound Street public toilets from free access into a barrier-controlled, pay-to-use facility.

Since then, I’ve been campaigning for one simple thing:

Bus drivers working in Nottingham city centre should not have to pay to use a toilet while doing their job.

This issue has now been raised with the Council, covered in the media, and taken up with our local MP.

And thanks to Freedom of Information requests, we now have the facts.

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The Council says there is no two-tier system

The Leader of Nottingham City Council has stated that there is no two-tier system for bus operators.

But the reality is this:

- Nottingham City Transport (NCT) drivers can access the toilets using their staff passes
- NCT is billed monthly based on usage
- No other operators have access

Let’s be clear:

Only one company has access. Nobody else does.

That is a two-tier outcome — whether it was intended or not.

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No agreement. No policy. No plan.

The FOI response confirms something even more concerning:

- There is no formal written agreement between the Council and NCT
- The arrangement was made through emails only
- There are no decision reports, no structured documentation, and no recorded policy basis

This is not a planned system.

This is an informal arrangement that has created unequal access.

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Other operators were never invited

This is perhaps the most important finding of all.

The Council has confirmed:

- No invitations have been issued to Trent Barton or CT4N
- No discussions have taken place with other operators
- No other organisations have access to the system

So while drivers from multiple companies bring thousands of passengers into Nottingham every day…

Only one group of drivers has been enabled to use the facilities properly.

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The charging system doesn’t even cover its costs

The justification for charging was cost recovery.

But the FOI data shows:

- The toilets are operating at a net financial loss
- Income is significantly lower than operating costs
- There has been no review of whether charging is effective or necessary

So drivers are being charged…

for a system that isn’t financially viable anyway.

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No review of impact on workers

Despite the clear impact on frontline workers:

- The Council has confirmed there has been no review of the impact on workers, including transport workers
- No operational assessment
- No workforce consideration

At the same time, drivers working routes terminating on Parliament Street are left:

- With no nearby facilities
- Relying on the goodwill of businesses
- Or forced to leave their vehicles and walk significant distances

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This isn’t about special treatment

Let’s be clear about what this campaign is — and what it isn’t.

This is not about asking for free handouts.

The Council has already confirmed that:

- Operators can be billed
- Charges are applied per use (50p)
- A working system already exists

The issue is simple:

Why has this not been extended to all operators?

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The bigger question

If the Council can:

- Enable staff access via passes
- Track usage
- Invoice operators

Then why:

- Was only one operator enabled?
- Were others not invited?
- Has there been no review of the system?

And ultimately:

Why are some bus drivers supported, while others are left to fend for themselves?

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Where this goes next

The solution is not complicated.

- Extend the same access arrangement to all operators
- Engage with Trent Barton and CT4N
- Treat all drivers working in Nottingham equally

This is a small, practical step.

But it matters.

Because behind all of this are real people — working long, unsociable hours — keeping Nottingham moving every single day.

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Final thought

During the pandemic, bus drivers were recognised as key workers.

They kept the city running.

They brought people to work, to hospital, to school.

Today, some of those same drivers are being left without access to a basic facility while working in the city centre.

That’s not right.

And now, thanks to the evidence, that’s not something that can be ignored.

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This isn’t about cost.
It’s about fairness.
And right now, fairness is missing.

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