£184,000 refurbishment of Holy Island public toilets scheduled for new year

Contractors will start work on the Green Lane facilities on January 4 on what is expected to be a 20-week project.

The £184,000 scheme will include replacement of the mechanical and electrical installations, replacement of all sanitaryware, refurbishment of the internal fabric to the buildings, and creation of a new ‘Changing Places’ fully accessible disabled toilet facility.

Cllr Roderick Lawrie, member for Norham and Islandshire on Northumberland County Council, said: “I am very pleased to say this work will greatly improve the facilities for tourists visiting beautiful Holy Island.”

The main contractor is Kapex Construction.

Depending on the tide times, the contractors may work a little later into the evenings on some weekdays. However, they will keep any work that generates noise to a minimum after 6pm wherever possible.

Safety fencing, signs and other measures will be put in place to ensure public safety, and the contractors do not envisage working at weekends or during public holidays.

Temporary toilets will be provided for the duration of the work.

A £131,000 refurbishment of the Seahouses public toilets by Ashbrook Construction will begin at the same time. It is expected to take 10 weeks.

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, county councillor for the Bamburgh ward, said: “I am very pleased to see this full refurbishment of the public toilets in Seahouses.

"This latest investment to improve our tourism infrastructure comes on the back of earlier work to reopen the tourist information centre, extend and resurface the overflow car park, and provide electric vehicle charging points.

"It all demonstrates the county council's commitment to Seahouses and our local economy by making sure that tourist facilities are truly fit for purpose."

Council leader Glen Sanderson added: “We are extremely pleased to be investing in improvements to these important visitor facilities.

“People love to visit our coastal towns and villages, and that has been demonstrated even more keenly this year. When they arrive we want them to have access to top quality facilities, and these refurbishments will ensure this, and make these great visitor destinations accessible to all.

“Up and down the country, councils are closing public toilets, but in Northumberland we are bucking that trend and are investing in ours.”

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