Work has begun on installing new toilets at Parade Gardens in the centre of Bath, as part of plans to improve facilities across the local area.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is moving ahead with plans to improve public toilets across the district.
Healthmatic Ltd, the Council’s contractor, will complete the work during November before the Christmas Market begins.
During construction the Ladies side will be kept open and there will also be a temporary unisex toilet, suitable for people with disabilities, at the main entrance next to the ticket kiosk.
The Council’s contract with Healthmatic Ltd will provide investment in cleaning and management services for 15 years, and means that 15 public toilets in parks, play areas, green spaces and key transport hubs will remain open and be improved.
Cllr David Dixon (Lib Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “These new toilets will be a great improvement for Parade Gardens, a beautiful park that attracts tourists and visitors who want a break from their sightseeing and shopping, as well as people living and working nearby.
“Parade Gardens is an award-winning park which is now becoming a popular venue for weddings and ceremonial photographs too.
“New toilets have already been put in place at Monmouth Street; Odd Down Park & Ride; Sandpits play area; Alice Park, and Keynsham Memorial Park and they are much improved, cleaner and safer to use.
“The works at Charlotte Street car park are progressing well and improvements to the remaining toilets will take place over the autumn and winter.”
The new public toilets at Parade Gardens will have many benefits, including:
- Cubicles will be unisex, one will be disability compliant and will have baby-change facilities – before there was only a locked baby-change room on the Ladies side;
- The cubicles offer a high standard of cleanliness and safety and are able to handle large numbers of people using them;
- They are large enough for a parent with a couple of small children and a pushchair to use together;
- High-tech controls means access can be 24 hours / 7 days a week all year and timers can be adjusted remotely to suit local need as well;
- Access is by coin entry to a totally private cubicle with its own hand-washing and drying facilities;
- The inside is resistant to vandalism and misuse with an easy-clean tiled interior and hard-wearing fittings;
- Problems are detected remotely enabling rapid response by Healthmatic’s engineering and maintenance teams.
All of the refurbished facilities will be charged at 20p for use, in order to make the contract sustainable over the next 15 years.
