AN OUTSPOKEN member of Wellington Town Council has said he believes an opportunity has been missed to bring in extra revenue with the planned refurbishment of the much-maligned public toilets in Longforth Road.

The council has been looking at updating and making better use of the toilets in Longforth Road and it was agreed on October 14 at the authority’s policy and resources committee meeting to go ahead with a redesign of the toilet block to include three cubicles and a Changing Places facility for disabled users.

That meant there would be little space to include any retail or office in the block which could have provided some income for the council.

And that news was greeted with disappointment by Cllr Marcus Barr who had previously trumpeted the idea of making money from a remodelled toilet block.

“I find it very disappointing we are missing out on an opportunity,” he told Wellington Town Council’s monthly meeting on Monday (November 1). “This council doesn’t have the courage or vision to do something really good.”

He accepted that the proposed toilet block would include Changing Places facilities but questioned that if they were only used ‘once or twice a week would that really be value for money?’

Former Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, hit back at Cllr Barr’s suggestion that the council was not visionary.

“I completely refute the comment made by Cllr Barr saying we are not visionary,” she said.

Cllr Lloyd said that including Changing Places facilities in the block was ‘visionary’ and that three toilet cubicles were needed.

“We need decent up-to-date toilets,” she added.

Councillors agreed to go ahead with the plans proposed by the policy and resources committee.