Southwell Town Council float plans for cathedral-inspired Welcome Centre to replace ageing public toilets

Ambitious plans for a cathedral-inspired visitor centre have been floated by councillors.

The initial plans for a ‘Welcome Centre’ in Southwell’s town centre include an exhibition space, information centre and public toilets.

Martin Stott explained that the plans have been drawn up by architects Guy Taylor Associates for Southwell Town Council free of charge when presenting them at a full council meeting on Wednesday (April 17).

The building would replace the ageing and unattractive Church Street Carpark public toilets — which the council has been exploring upgrade options for — and be situated on the same site they currently occupy.

Mr Stott said: “It’s not only an opportunity to upgrade the public toilets, but also a chance to see how we can actually enhance it and make it a welcome centre.

“It is ambitious and we have no idea how much it will cost — the next step is to look into ideas for grant funding.”

He further explained that the plans had been designed so the toilet upgrades could take place first and the rest of the centre added on afterwards.

“It’s a concept drawing at the moment,” Mr Stott added.

“It needs a lot of debate about how it might turn out.

“People park in the most obvious place when they come to town and if they’ve come from any distance the first thing people want is the toilet — which are not very welcoming.

“They can see the Minster and they probably know about The Workhouse, but they’ll want to know where the shops are.”

The centre is planned to be a ‘first point of entry’ to Southwell for visitors, and the design is inspired by the round chapter house of the nearby Southwell Minster — with a circular space comprising the entrance and information centre and a curved, almost triangular exhibition space leading off the circle.

Public toilets will be attached on the southern side of the entry way, with a plant room and small kitchen also incorporated.

It is proposed to be constructed in limestone to match the cathedral, with raised, narrow rectangular windows similar to those on the chapter house to let in natural light.

The plans were met with positive responses from other councillors — including Roger Blaney who described them as “quite superb”.

He said: “I see how it sits with the pepperpots behind it, it really has picked up some details of our Minster.”

Considering funding, he suggested Southwell Town Council would “be grateful for the crumbs under the table” from Newark and Sherwood District Council’s funding pots for Newark and the Sherwood area, which Southwell falls between.

Penny Rainbow added: “I think they have tried to replicate the chapter house, and done really well.”

Internally the centre is proposed to include an interactive map, leaflet stand accessible outside of the centre’s opening hours, a 3D model of the town, seating, and exhibition panels.

The curved external wall of the exhibition space also includes a permanent seating area.

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