New loos planned for Plymouth
A building programme of new toilets is being rolled out across the city.
Two new sets of loos with sea views at Richmond Walk and Devil’s Point are among a round of planning applications that have just been submitted to planners.
Existing facilities near the local shopping centres at Southway, Whitleigh and Crownhill will be demolished and replaced.
Cabinet Member for Street Scene, Councillor Brian Vincent said: “Public toilets are an important part of Plymouth’s tourism offer. Poor quality toilets do not help sell Britain’s Ocean City to visitors.
“More and more people are visiting all parts of our waterfront and enjoying the amazing views around Devil’s Point and Richmond Walk and we want to provide facilities for them.”
“While our Street Services have tried to keep a good level of provision and cleanliness, some of our toilets were looking tired and suffering from structural issues.
“We pledged to overhaul the network, keep them clean and open and help stop vandalism.”
Devil’s Point will be refurbished to include a disabled toilet. There will also be a shower so that people using the beach and seawater pool at Firestone Bay can rinse off after bathing.
The Council is working with the Stonehouse Lawn Tennis Club to agree a lease for a facility at the rear of the building. As part of the lease conditions the tennis club will make their facility available to the local community. With more people using the revamped toilets, it is hoped the facility will be less of a target for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
The work will involve demolishing the old block and building a base to install toilets similar to the facilities that have been erected on the Barbican.
The applications are part of an ongoing investment in the city’s toilets. Last year public toilets at Quay Point and Elphinstone Car Park were replaced. They were recently awarded platinum status in the ‘National Loo of the Year Awards 2014’.
The existing toilets at Richmond Walk will be demolished and replaced with a single disabled accessible unisex toilet.
TEC Construction have been appointed to carry out the work.
Subject to permission, Outland Road and Hooe toilets which have been closed and boarded up for a number of years will be demolished in December, with work on the remaining sites due to start in January 2016.
The project is due to finish next Spring when all the facilities will open to the public.
