Shrewsbury public toilets will be demolished and replaced

Public toilets in Shrewsbury town centre will be demolished to make way for a £300,000 information centre.

The toilets in Butcher Row were closed last year due to problems with anti-social behaviour

They will be replaced with a glass-fronted information point with offices, unisex toilets and a disabled access.

The plan has been discussed by Shrewsbury Town Council's recreation and leisure committee and officials from Base Architects.

Town councillor Miles Kenny, who sits on the committee, said work could start in September, subject to planning permission, and completed by next spring, at a cost of between £250,000 and £300,000 paid for by the town council.

Police had alerted the town council to increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour at the toilets.

The committee said the "structure and quality of the existing building was not salvageable, was non-compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act".

Also proposed is a private outdoor area, possibly with a retractable roof, which can be used all year round.

Councillor Kenny said: "The current toilets and its steps tend to get slippy and have been known to flood in heavy rain."

He added: "The new design would incorporate tough and robust unisex loos which would be closed in the evenings."

Councillor Kenny said the plans were due to be discussed at the next meeting of Shrewsbury Town Council on Monday.

Alan Shrank, planning representative for Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents Association, said members were "delighted" with the progress being made to provide new toilet facilities in Butcher Row.