Background Info

Wotton Town Council owns the freehold of the Old Town toilets.

The story dates back to 2015 when the service provided by Veolia, the contractor who cleaned and locked the toilets overnight, would be discontinued. A new company called Ubico was being created later that year who might have been able to deliver a similar service. Costs and arrangements were unclear.

Little was done. Veolia service was discontinued in the October and the Town Council caretaker was tasked with locking and unlocking.

The 2016 update to the Wotton Town Council community plan was published and noted:-

1. Take immediate action to refurbish Old Town toilets.
2. Establish longer-term plan to replace Old Town toilets with a modern multi-use facility.
3. Explore use of other facilities (such as the Parish Room).
4. Ensure that SDC takes action to improve Rope Walk toilets.

It's worth noting that the Stroud District council owns the freehold of the Rope Walk Toilets and they refurbished them in October 2017, I can't track down cost info but I feel it was substantial as they were closed for five weeks.

Wotton Town council minutes from January 2018:-

T.5447 Old Town Toilets – to consider the future of the toilets due to continued poor state of equipment and building itself, cost of yearly maintenance, low usage, & high quotes received to rebuild the facility of around £80,000. Cllr P Smith is investigating usage of a local toilet facility before a decision is made regarding the future of these toilets. The Clerk is also asked to investigate a repair quotation for just the roof itself.....

and then in March 2018:-

T.5486 Old Town Toilets – to receive update on alternative toilet use options (Cllr P Smith) and consider how this impacts future plans for these toilets. Also to receive update on builder quotes (Cllr T Luker). Cllr P Smith’s investigation into an alternative provider nearby for public use of their toilet was refused. Cllr T Luker obtained a rough quote of £7400 to put a pitched roof on existing toilet block. The Clerk advised that planning permission would be required due to being in a conservation area and changing the external appearance, also building regulation approval needed and plans drawn up if this route is chosen. Furthermore Council needs to consider whether the single brick walls are actually strong enough to support a pitched roof or whether extra foundations under this 80 year plus building are needed, in addition to drainage/plumbing improvements which would necessitate excavating the concrete floor. Cllr T Luker is to consider plumbing issues and obtain advice.

Community Plan info here

The Action Plan updated in 2020 noted:-

1. Re-painting carried out in 2016 but major refurbishment abandoned in favour of a new build due to poor condition of building structure.
2. Top project from 2019 community consultation. Funding for replacement Old Town Toilets has been earmarked by WTC and SDC has set aside £40k from its market towns initiative. Architect appointed in 2018 to produce initial designs. Progress has been disappointingly slow and it is not clear if the architect wishes to continue after a positive start. A £45k PWL will be needed to fund.
3. Investigated but no practical solutions found.
4. Rope Walk toilets refurbished by SDC in 2017 and WTC improved the area in front of toilets in 2016.
5. Shopkeepers not keen.

I notice that £45k was allocated by SDC (in an agenda pack) way back in 2018 via the Market Towns Initiative Fund (with light touch monitoring).  I don't know if that money was ever handed over to WTC but I seem to remember seeing that there is £90k sat in WTC reserves for the project. I've asked SDC for some more information on this.

The Old Town Toilets came back onto the agenda at the November 2024 WTC Planning meeting according to the minutes:-

Old Town Toilets The Chairman gave a background overview of this project that started with a questionnaire sent to residents in 2019. The redevelopment of Old Town Toilets was by far the most popular above other projects in the town due to their deterioration and unsatisfactory condition. An on-site survey by 2 Councillors was carried out to establish the average daily usage of the toilets, the results were 20 times in a day, but this may not have given a true representation due to their undesirable condition. Plans had been drawn up and redesigned due to new regulations which was a lengthy process due to the pandemic and the Government changing regulations. However, there is now an opportunity to review the plans to reconsider the layout, construction and positioning of the toilet building to meet the needs of accessibility, baby changing facilities, and to deter anti-social behaviour in the proposed garden area. A modular design may prove to be more desirable rather than a constructed build, but this depends very much on costs. Kingswood Parish Council has recently installed modular toilets and are happy for the Town Council to view them. After a lengthy discussion it was concluded that the toilets are needed not only for residents but also visitors to the town and walkers walking the Cotswold Way as the toilets in Rope Walk are often closed due to vandalism resulting in the town offering no facilities.