More new loos with sea views!

Two new sets of loos with sea views are on the cards for Plymouth’s waterfront.

A business case has been approved to build a new toilet block at Richmond Walk and to reconfigure and update tired toilets at Devil’s Point.

The Council has allocated £59,770 from its capital programme to demolish toilets at Richmond Walk which have been closed since 2011.It is hoped that the toilets will be built over this summer.

A further £140,000 will be allocated to transform the unattractive toilet block at Devil’s Point.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Vincent said: “Public toilets are an important part of Plymouth’s tourism offer. Poor quality toilets do not help sell Britain’s Ocean City to visitors.

“This area of Plymouth has soared in popularity in recent years and more people are enjoying walking around Richmond Walk to Mount Wise Park.

“We now have more people cycling along our waterfront to Mount Wise and Devonport and there are also growing numbers of people who use the moorings here to launch sea kayaks.”

The old Richmond Walk toilet was closed because of vandalism, but it is hoped with more people enjoying this spot, anti-social behaviour will be less likely.

The work will involve demolishing the old block and building a base to install toilets similar to the facilities that have been erected on the Barbican.

Details need to be finalised, but it will including unisex facilities directly accessible from the street for disabled and baby changing.
           
Work on the Devil’s Point toilets is expected to start in the autumn and will involve a significant revamp as well as installing showers, so that people using the beach and seawater pool at Firestone Bay can rinse off after bathing.

It is intended that the Stonehouse Lawn Tennis Club will also share the revamped toilet block – again, helping to provide natural security as there will be more people keeping an eye on the building.