Everyone in Eye will be aware that the male and female WCs in the Cross St car park were closed by Mid Suffolk District Council in 2015. This resulted in a reduction in the facilities in Eye offered to visitors in particular, with only the single disabled toilet being available.
The good news is that funding has been secured towards the refurbishment work required to bring the male and female toilets back into use and improve the disabled toilet as well. Works will be overseen by the town council and undertaken by the same local team that worked on the town hall. Work will start with renovating the disabled toilet in February and this should complete in March.
District Councillor Peter Gould said
“Originally, the plan was to renovate just the disabled toilet, which desperately needed refurbishment, and which was the only functioning public toilet, we are pleased that the secured funding will allow us to reopen the main toilet block also”
The works will include new fittings, updated pipework and electrics and baby changing facilities in both the male and female toilets. The budget is not sufficient to include completely new wall and other finishes, but the old tiling is in fair condition and will be cleaned. The town council will deliver the best product it can within its budget. The toilets will be free of charge.
“There is a discussion between the town and district council about long-term responsibility. But, in terms of the running costs and routine maintenance, that will fall on the town council and councillors are willing to take on this challenge,” added Cllr Gould.
The Town Council is in discussion with local service providers for alternative facilities during the refurbishment. The aim is to complete work on the whole toilet block by the middle of the year. This will depend on the condition of the roof and the drains and other existing services.
