Refurbishment work worth about £65,000 will begin at two Rhayader public toilets in early May

Contractors will start work at two Rhayader public toilet blocks in early May.

The town council was given £65,000 to spend on the toilet blocks after it agreed to take on a last minute major refurbishment project.

Rhayader was awarded the money to improve the toilets at Cwmdauddwr and Dark Lake as part of funding secured through a budget deal between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds, Mid and West Wales Senedd Member.

But the contractor commissioned by Powys County Council to do the work pulled out.

At a recent town council meeting, the town council agreed to take the money and try and do the work themselves.

Town clerk Julie Stephens said the money was supposed to have been spent by the end of March but because of the circumstances and the contractors are agreed for early May the town council can go ahead.

She said the toilets will probably need to be closed for about two weeks while the work is undertaken.

Julie said they are still finalising some quotes but if they can have everything they want, it is likely to come in just over the £65,000 budget so the town council would have to look at what money is left in the toilet budget or there may need to be an emergency meeting of the council to resolve the issue.

Plans for the Cwmdauddwr toilets had been expected to include repairing the external render, putting on a fresh new coat of paint on the walls and windows, new external doors, new baby changing unit and, if room allows for battery storage, a small solar power supply.

At the Dark Lane toilets the plans had been to upgrade the lighting to new energy saving LEDs throughout, replacing external doors and one window that are in a poor condition. Internal improvements to cubicle walls and doors, and upgrades to the water harvesting system allowing for further future cost savings on utility bills.

The Welsh Government grant – awarded to Powys County Council – was to enable the refurbishment of toilets across Knighton, Llandrindod Wells, Llanwrtyd Wells and Rhayader.