COUNCILLORS in Wiveliscombe want to create a community meeting space in the town’s North Street public toilet block.

The council has applied for planning permission to re-model the toilets in the building to house two unisex ‘accessible to all’ cubicles and a meeting room.

Town clerk Sarah Towells said the current 60-year-old building with separate men’s and women’s facilities was more than currently required in Wiveliscombe.

Ms Towells said: “This will result in less usage of heating and water and will also allow the unused area to be converted into a community meeting space.”

She said the toilets were maintained under a local plan which required public toilets to be available in the town.

Ms Towells said: “There is limited insulation and the facilities are becoming much worn and break down easily.

“As such, we need to upgrade the toilets and the best way is to re-build our internal requirements.

“The toilets are located near to a free public car park and are wheelchair accessible.

“Baby changing facilities will be established with both cubicles.

“The community meeting space will allow the council to hold meetings and also make the space available to local communities, allowing other local community spaces more opportunity to be used by others.”

Ms Towells said the town council’s planning group would be making a report on the application to the authority’s monthly meeting on Monday (February 17).

She said the council meeting was open to the public and anybody was allowed to attend and could speak directly to councillors on the issue if they contacted her in advance.

Somerset Council, which will decide whether or not to approve the plans, is asking for any public comments to be submitted to it by February 28 and has set itself a target of April 1 to make its decision.