A TOILET trip in Greenwich Park could soon see you spending 20 pennies for the privilege after cuts to funding.

The park is one of eight run by The Royal Parks (TRP) which is considering the charge to help with cleaning costs and which would be rolled out in March next year.

There are two adult toilets that would be affected by the 20p price with the disabled, cafe and children’s playground lavatories remaining free of charge.

Head of communications for TRP Neil Coyte says the fee proposal comes after an increase in maintenance costs, set against a backdrop of government grant and funding cuts.

He said: "It won’t make money, it’s not even profit neutral but it is a way of maintaining a number of toilets and keeping them to the [correct] standard.

"The modest fee of 20p will help to achieve this.

"We think it is a fair deal."

Responding to news of the fee, chairman of Friends of Greenwich Park Liz Coyle told News Shopper: "I think it is a pity but it is a sign of modern times that people don’t respect toilets and maintaining them.

"I am not overjoyed to hear about it but you can understand the reasons behind it.

"The good thing is it is essential that something like a disabled toilet should remain free."

The 71-year-old, who lives in Orchard Drive, Blackheath, added that Royal Parks have a tight budget and have to look at every possible way of seeing how they can manage it.

A spokesman for TRP went on to say: "The Royal Parks is currently tendering for a supplier to refurbish, maintain and clean the toilets and work with us to improve the toilets where possible."

It currently costs TRP around £1.1m per year to clean park toilets.

What do you think of the proposal? Is it fair to pay 20p for using a well maintained toilet in the Royal Parks? Add your comments below.