An £226k is to be spent improving public toilets in the Scarborough Borough.
A £1.1m scheme is already underway to upgrade facilities but since being approved 18 months ago the condition of many of the buildings has deteriorated further as The borough councils head of operations, Paul Thompson told the cabinet this week.
Paul Thompson said that while some of the work is now complete, problems have been discovered in other areas.
The Council’s Public Convenience Strategy was approved in February 2020 and sets out a phased implementation
plan to deliver significant improvements to the Borough’s toilets.
Councillor Tony Randerson says the initial study of the facilities conducted before the initial plan was approved found that the condition of the large number of the Council owned facilities was poor and that investment was required to bring them up to a satisfactory, modern standard.
The public conveniences identified for improvement in phase one were:
- Staithes Bank Bottom;
- Sandsend North;
- Sandsend South;
- Castleton;
- Whitby Marina;
- Robin Hoods Bay Bank Bottom;
- St Nicholas Gardens;
- Cayton Bay;
- Filey Evron Centre;
- Filey Foreshore
- and Filey Royal Parade
Work paused during the lockdowns but has now restarted however the report presented to the council's cabinet this week stated that
"the COVID pandemic has imparted significant effects on the delivery phase of the public convenience strategy. This has resulted in delays
to works and also had a significant impact upon the cost of undertaking the works.""The structural changes witnessed at Royal Parade toilets will mean that this facility cannot be improved as part of the phase one works. A full options
appraisal is now required prior to the commencement of any works. It is recommended that the budget originally identified for this block is re-allocated
to the Filey Foreshore refurbishment to ensure that this can continue at pace and deliver an exceptional toilet for the residents of Filey. ""The block at Cayton Bay has reached the end of its serviceable life and requires replacement. "
"Cost pressures within the building industry following COVID and Brexit has resulted in an increase in costs of £21k to undertake the refurbishment of the
smaller toilets at Whitby Marina, Filey Evron Centre, Sandsend North & South, Staithes Bank Bottom and Castleton. "
The report concludes that In order to progress with the delivery of phase one of the public convenience strategy an uplift in the allocated budget will be required.
While the provision of public conveniences is a non-statutory function for local authorities, council leader Steve Siddons says the council recognises, the benefits that such facilities can bring to the area.
The cabinet approved the request for an addition £226,000 to continue with the works.
Comments
Add a comment