NEW town centre public toilets were delivered in Wellington on Sunday (July 26), three years, seven months, and four days since the old conveniences were put out of action when a car crashed into the building.
The £220,000 modular building, which is less then half the size of the old toilet block in Longforth Road, arrived on the back of a lorry and was craned into position before lunchtime.
But, it will still be at least another fortnight before the building is fully plumbed in, groundworks competed, and everything has been tested ready for the toilets to be used by the public.
The toilets saga began on December 22, 2022, when a BMW car driver lost control turning into Longforth Road and slammed into the front of the old toilet block, partially demolishing it.
The town council-owned building was then found to be under-insured and the authority had a lengthy battle with both its own insurer and that of the car driver before payouts were eventually secured to reduce the cost of replacing the toilets.
Several dates for the new toilets installation came and went before this week’s successful delivery.
The new toilets provide three cubicles, one of which is disability friendly and also contains a baby and toddler changing facility.
The building will also house a storage room for the council and has been finished in red brick cladding to fit the character of its surroundings and to look similar to the one it has replaced.
The toilets are about 40 yards from the Longforth Road coach park, where the council spent £20,000 on an enhancement programme, including a new waiting shelter.
The council wants to attract more coaches to stop in Wellington to boost footfall for local business and sees the coach park and new toilets as an important part of that plan.
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