Timetable for toilets a worry

Concern has been expressed at the closure of public toilets in London Road carpark, Newark, as plans for new ones in St Mark’s Place are given the go-ahead.

The £1/4m cost of the new toilets will be met by Newark and Sherwood District Council but as part of the plans the London Road toilets are to close to save money.

The toilets issue was discussed by Newark Town Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

The chairman, Mr Peter Foster, objected to the toilets being closed when new ones had not yet opened.

The new toilets, to be built under an overhang of the corner of the multi-storey carpark, between the back of Cartergate and St Mark’s Place, should be ready early next year.

Mr Tony Roberts, who is also leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said taxpayers throughout the district had to be thought of when considering the London Road closure.

He said: “With so many toilets already provided by retailers in Newark we will be awash with them.

“I welcome the fact that we will have state-of-the-art toilets so close to where the old ones used to be.”

Mr David Lloyd praised the district council for providing the toilets when it was not a statutory duty.

Work is expected to start in September.

To keep revenue costs down and offset the cost of toilet attendants there will be a 20p charge to use them.

Mrs Helen Beney said the charge was more than reasonable.

“I would be willing to pay 40p-50p to have really nicely looked after and clean toilets,” she said.