COUNCILLORS have said “yes” to building a new block of public toilets in Wellington town centre – although it will come at a cost.

Members of Wellington Town Council agreed on Tuesday (August 27) at a special meeting to go-ahead with plans for a modular construction – which has been given an estimated cost of £238,205 - to be installed in Longforth Road.

It means that the building will be built in a factory and then slotted together on the site of the former toilet block in Longforth Road which was demolished earlier this year after a car had gone into it in December 2022 and had made it unsafe.

Councillors heard from Phil Dibben, of Healthmatic, who spoke about the modular building while Paul Bennett, of Ravenslade, talked about a traditional brick-built building which could cost around £256,646.

Although councillors have been saying that the toilets in Longforth Road needed to be replaced, there was still uneasy nervousness about the big costs involved especially at a time when the town council is taking on more services and responsibilities from Somerset Council.

The town council will be taking on the responsibility of the toilet facilities in Wellington Park, while there is still a possibility that it could take ownership of the toilets in North Street car park or see them close permanently.

Cllr Justin Cole said: “Surely we should be looking at the bigger picture and seeing where we do need them?

“We’re talking about a large investment, but with a lack of data about what we need as a town. Do we spend £250,000 now or take a step back and look at the whole town?”

Cllr Andy Govier said: “This is difficult because the costs do scare me, but I do understand where Cllr Cole is coming from.

“But I just fear that in a year’s time we could be talking about the same sort of money on improving the toilets in North Street.”

Councillors agreed they should move ahead with the modular building – which would involve two toilet cubicles and one disabled loo with baby changing facilities along with a store room and a service room – and start the planning process.

A final decision on a planning application would not be made until the end of 2024, by which time a proper investigation of what toilet facilities were needed in Wellington could be made and councillors could look again at the “bigger picture.”

The council is still awaiting the settlement of an insurance claim for the damage caused during the car crash at the now demolished toilet block and until it has that funding available it does not know what money is needed to make up the deficit – although councillors were told on Tuesday that it might only equate to about 30 per cent of the costs with the remainder coming from a Public Works Loan Board loan.

If everything goes according to plan the new toilets in Longforth Road could be open for use in August next year.