Two councils are currently considering the controversial approach

People could end up paying more to use public toilets at busy times under plans being considered by cash-strapped councils.

Local authorities are exploring demand-based pricing, which could see toilet charges rise during popular periods such as the summer months and major events.

Two councils are currently considering the controversial approach. Cotswolds district council has been looking at a "dynamic pricing" model that could result in higher charges during the summer.

Sefton council in Merseyside is also preparing to introduce contactless payment machines at its public toilets. The new technology would allow the council to change prices during busy periods in the future.

Neither council has formally committed to introducing variable charges and both have stopped short of ruling them out.

The proposals have faced criticism from residents who fear the changes could become another way for councils to raise money and place additional costs on those least able to afford them.

In Sefton, the council said its new contactless payment system "will allow scope for future generation of income."

Documents from council meetings held this week show the technology could allow charges to be changed during events and other periods of high demand, helping the council cover the cost of maintaining the facilities.

The cloud-based system would also give council officials access to live information on how often the toilets are being used, allowing them to monitor and manage the facilities more closely.

A council spokesman said: "Although the council is not obliged to provide public lavatories, we know they matter to people and we are committed to keeping them high quality, affordable and accessible."

However, the council stressed that there are currently no plans to introduce variable pricing. It said the option had only been mentioned in its report as one of the capabilities offered by the new technology.

Over in the Cotswolds, council papers revealed that seasonal demand-based pricing had been explored as a potential avenue during the authority's budget-setting process for its public toilets.

The district council ultimately chose not to proceed with the approach, citing the costs associated with each price adjustment as a deterrent.

A spokesman said: "The option of introducing dynamic pricing was considered during the budget-setting process. However, as each price adjustment incurs an associated cost, it was decided not to implement this approach at this time."

The authority did, however, raise the price of using its public conveniences from 40p to 50p in April as part of a broader budget review, a 25 per cent increase that underscores the financial pressures bearing down on local government services.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Samoon has urged Sefton to go further and explicitly rule out deploying the technology for variable charging.

"Even the suggestion of charging people more for going to the toilet during public events is concerning," he said. "Dynamic pricing really would give a whole new meaning to spending a penny."

Local residents have criticised the plans, accusing both councils of using the charges to raise extra money as their finances come under growing pressure. They have also warned that higher fees could hit those on lower incomes the hardest.

The row comes as the number of public toilets across England continues to fall.

Freedom of Information data compiled by The Telegraph shows the number has dropped 14 per cent over the past decade, from 2,111 in 2016 to 1,747 in 2026. The figures are based on responses from just over half of all councils, meaning the true decline could be even greater.

Charging more at busy times is already becoming increasingly common elsewhere in Britain.

The system, often known as "dynamic pricing", was first made popular by Uber and has long been used by airlines. It came under greater scrutiny when prices for Oasis reunion tour tickets more than doubled, leading to a regulatory investigation.

Sir Keir Starmer later introduced consumer protection rules following the backlash.

However, similar pricing models have continued to spread. Hundreds of Stonegate Group pubs began charging more for drinks at weekends in 2023 to help cover staffing costs.

Last month, car parks were also reported to have introduced "dynamic tariffs" for the first time.

The Bank of England has also cautioned that demand-driven pricing could soon extend to supermarkets.