Million-pound investment into public toilets approved by Scarborough Council cabinet

Scarborough Council’s cabinet today approved a £1.8 million investment in 30 facilities across Whitby, Scarborough and Filey.

It was also confirmed that the authority would once again look to place temporary toilets in Scarborough’s Royal Albert Drive before the main tourist season begins later this year.

Council leader Cllr Steve Siddons (Lab) said that the scheme would now be included in the authority’s budget, which will be voted on by members at the end of this month.

He added: “I think long-term improvements to the toilets is to be welcomed. I think it is the right thing to do for the council.”

Cabinet member Cllr Janet Jefferson (Ind) said the scheme would help the council meet its aim of building a better borough and would “improve the quality” of the facilities.

In the first two years of the scheme, £1.1 million will be spent on a number of locations across the borough, including £300,000 for the St Nicholas Gardens toilets on Scarborough seafront, which will be refurbished under the council’s plan.

Toilets in the Foreshore and Royal Parade in Filey will also benefit from refurbishments costing £131,149 and £110,552 respectively.

Toilets at Filey’s Evron Centre will also undergo “minor works” and it is also proposed to spend £70,000 on replacing toilets at Cayton Bay.

Other toilets that would be refurbished in the first two years of the scheme include Sandsend North (£14,621), Sandsend South (£23,487), Castleton (£6,873) and Robin Hood’s Bay Bank Bottom (£87,854).

Minor works will also be carried out at Staithes Bank Bottom (£14,775) and Whitby Marina (£35,072). All costs are currently estimates.

The authority’s toilet strategy will also investigate the viability of a “community toilet scheme” where local shops, pubs and restaurants are paid between £500 and £1,000 a year to open their toilets to the public without an expectation of them having to make a purchase.

Signs would be put in the windows of businesses taking part to make people aware of which premises were taking part in the scheme.