Shropshire Star

Vandal-hit Market Drayton toilet block to be replaced

A planning application will not need to be submitted to allow a town council to replace vandal-hit public toilets, it has emerged.

Published

Market Drayton Town Council has now gone out to tender for the supply and installation of a new standalone toilet block, which will be situated adjacent to the town hall.

The town toilets were discussed by members at a meeting of the council's services and facilities committee on Thursday, which agreed to set up a working party to push ahead with the plans.

Roger Hughes, Shropshire councillor for Market Drayton, confirmed that a planning application would not need to be submitted to Shropshire Council for the replacement town toilets.

"We have set up a lavatory task and finish group to work on how to proceed with the toilets at the town hall," he said.

"We have gone out to tender and we have found a couple of British companies and a couple on the continent, but there are not that many about."

Now it has gone out to tender, the council hopes to have the new toilets opened to the public in about three months.

The toilets, in Frogmore Road, were closed last August last year when a fire in the disabled toilet spread and caused damage to the walls, light fixtures and fittings.

The fire did not reach the main town hall building, but council clerk Julie Jones said the authority was keen to keep them separate as things could have been much worse.

The town's proposed new skate park and plans to install new equipment at Longlands recreational area were also discussed by councillors at the meeting.

The town council was recently awarded £75,000 from Sports England to breathe new life into its 15-year-old skate park.

The current skate park, which is close to the swimming pool, will be replaced with a larger one as part of a new development.

Meanwhile, up to £100,000 will be spent to bring the "neglected" play area in Longlands up to scratch.

The town council has gone out to tender on both schemes and initial consultations have taken place with the user groups to discuss their preferred preferences.

At the meeting Councillor Roy Aldcroft asked whether the town's CCTV could be broadcast live online

Councillor Hughes said: "We don't know so we will have to investigate."

He added: "I know we have got the technical stuff to do it but I suspect we won't be able to do it."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.