Nearer to new toilets but petition continues
New public toilets could be provided in Newark town centre.
A planning application has been submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council for toilets in St Mark’s Place.
They would replace those, opposite Ethel Austin, that were closed in the precinct earlier this year.
St Mark’s Place is owned by the Oakgate Group Plc, of Wetherby, which wants to create a shop unit where the old toilets were, and open new ones next to Wilkinsons and below the overhang of the multi-storey carpark.
The company has been given planning consent for toilets at that site in the past but a new application is needed because the permission expired.
The closure of the St Mark’s toilets in January sparked an outcry from market traders and shoppers.
The property director for Oakgate, Alison Stewart, said the company was aware of the lobbying from the public and had been in talks with Newark and Sherwood and District Council.
“The old toilets were obsolete and not functioning in that location,” she said.
“We believe that we have found a better solution.
“It ticks all the boxes of questions and concerns brought up by Newark and Sherwood District Council, Newark Town Council and from CCTV.”
She said toilets in the new location would be easier to manage.
Despite the application, signatures are still being sought on a petition that has been distributed to several Newark businesses, including G. H. Porter Provisions and Manor Pharmacy, Bridge Street, and The Newark Snack Company, Appletongate.
Mrs Daphne Arnold, of Balderton, started the petition and said she would carry on distributing sheets until a decision was made on whether to install new toilets.
Mrs Arnold said: “We need toilets that are the responsibility of the council.
“So many potential tourists are not going to come to Newark without decent toilets in the town centre.
“If they were council owned then people would know who to complain to, and if anything was wrong they could report problems.”
The owner of Porter Provisions, Mr David Moore, said he backed the petition because of the number of complaints about the lack of toilets from people coming into the shop.
He said it was not only his customers who were signing — people were coming in specifically to sign.
He has so far collected 462 signatures.
“We need quality toilets,” Mr Moore said.
“If someone opens toilets it is obviously better than things at the moment but I would like to see council-owned and manned toilets.
“If a shop puts them in they will be open only minimal hours. They will end up being dirty like the previous ones.”
Mr Moore said the council should install modern toilets.
He said Newark was a tourist town and needed 21st Century toilets for visitors.
Mr Paul Moore, the owner of The Newark Snack Company, has had the petition on his counter for only a couple of days, and has already got about 70 signatures.
Another petition organiser, Mrs Mary Holland (62) of Meadow Road, Balderton, will be in the Market Place from 10.30am tomorrow seeking more signatures.
The petitions will be presented to either the leader of the district council, Mr Tony Roberts, or the Mayor of Newark, Mr Harry Molyneux.
It is possible the planned new toilets could be managed by the district council.
Its community services manager, Mr Jim Besson, said he was pleased the plans had been submitted but he was concerned the design did not include an attendant’s office, which was something the council wanted if it was to be involved in the management.
Mr Besson said: “It is important the toilets are attended full-time to avoid anti-social behaviour and drug taking — problems that forced the closure of the previous unattended toilets in St Mark’s Place.
“We would also prefer the toilets to be pay on entry through a turnstile, in the same way as the toilets in The Gilstrap Centre, in order to retrieve some revenue costs.”
He said they would talk to Oakgate to see if they wanted the toilets to be council managed, and if the necessary changes could be made.
