NOTTINGHAM City Council has been urged to exempt bus drivers from new charges to public toilets in the city centre. 

Lee Odams, a member of RMT union who has been driving buses for 18 years, wrote to the council, highlighting that drivers are sometimes behind the wheel “for five-and-a-half hours without a break.”

He noted that drivers are not always on a route with accessible toilets, many having to wait until the city centre to use those at Greyhound Street, which are due to have charges introduced. 

Mr Odams said many drivers have medical conditions which require more visits to the toilet, and added that he hopes the council — a majority shareholder in Nottingham City Transport — would have “a legal and moral duty of care.”

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) says that it is a legal requirement that the industry provides adequate toilet facilities for staff.

Nottingham City Council has been approached for comment.