A TOWN council in Cornwall has announced it has closed a public toilet in order to carry out renovation works.
St Ives Town Council has said the West Pier toilets are currently closed for large-scale renovations due to the fact that they have not had a full renovation in a decade.
The works involve a full strip out and will include the toilets being re-decorated, re-tiled and new electrics put in as well as works to plumbing and the replacement of the mechanical hand wash stations, which routinely broke down, with sinks and sensor taps, as well as pouring a new solid floor.
According to St Ives Town Council, much of the work is being completed by their own team, however, they have had to rely on contractors and this has caused some difficulties and delays.
This has meant that the programme is behind schedule as they await the installation of the floor and equipment.
The toilets will need to remain closed until the final contractor works and will not re-open until late June.
The council has also said that, as previously announced, a new payment system will be in operation, with the charges being "fully re-invested" back into the town's public conveniences.
READ NEXT:
The new payment system will also be gradually rolled out to other areas due to the cost of running the conveniences, which at the West Pier toilets totalled £200,000 in 2022 alone, say the council.
In a statement posted on its social media page, St Ives Town OCuncil said: "The Council sincerely apologises for the extended closure, and fully regrets the impact on the local community and visitors alike.
"However, we continue to operate public toilets at the Sloop, Smeatons Pier, Dove Street, Porthgwidden, and Porthminster, together with sites operated by businesses at Porthmeor and Trenwith and our toilets at Longstone in Carbis Bay.
"We are confident, therefore, that there will be full access to public facilities during the next few weeks.
"The facilities will be open again well before the beginning of the school holidays and we hope that everyone will benefit from the quality of the new facilities.
"Thank you for your continued patience and understanding."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here