COUNCILLORS are still concerned about the “horrendous” costs involved in replacing the bulldozed public toilets in Wellington town centre with new facilities.

The much-maligned toilets in Longforth Road have recently been demolished in readiness for new public loos.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s policy and resources committee were told on April 17 that the demolition job on toilets had gone to plan.

Town clerk Dave Farrow said the work had been completed a week early and that there had been “minimal disruption.”

The toilets had been earmarked for demolition for over a year after a motorist had driven into the building and left it unsafe in December 2022.

And Mr Farrow said: “Although it has taken a long time to get to this stage for the toilets to be demolished, the contractors have got it done very smoothly and have done a good job.”

Putting in new toilet facilities at Longforth Road had been in the melting pot at the council long before the car crash of December 2022.

But councillors have still yet to decide fully on what they want to put there instead and await proposals and options from the Ravenslade project management company.

Although possible costs for the project have already been discussed by councillors in behind-closed-doors meetings and have so far remained confidential, some have said they have been shocked at the figures being quoted.

And Cllr Andy Govier, speaking on April 17, said: “I do fear about the costs.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow added: “The prices I have heard mentioned previously have horrified me.”

Councillors have been told that they can either have a new brick-built building or a modular building where it is built off-site and then just put into place.

Cllr Janet Lloyd said: “We should have a brick-built toilet block. I wouldn’t want to see a metal toilet block on that corner.”

Town clerk Mr Farrow quipped: “They do have some pretty metal toilets – not that I spend too long looking at metal toilets!”

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Catherine Govier, added: “If we can’t afford to do this we will just have to look at other options.”

Councillors have already voted in favour of recommending to the full council that the balance of costs for a rebuild on the Longforth Road site should be funded through a Public Works Loan Board loan with a final decision on the amount to be borrowed to be made when costs are known.

The council is still awaiting the settlement of an insurance claim for the damage caused during the car crash at the toilet block and until it has that funding available it does not know what money is needed to make up the deficit – although costings are still up in the air.

And it was said during an extraordinary meeting of the town council’s policy and resources committee in November last year that the authority was beginning to become a “laughing stock” with the long-running saga continuing.