Public toilets in Filey set for expansion to meet summer demand
Eight more toilets to be installed at Royal Parade
The provision of public toilets in a popular coastal town in North Yorkshire is set to more than double from next week.
Eight additional toilets will be installed at Royal Parade in Filey, taking the total number of toilets to 13, including accessible provision.
Temporary toilets were first introduced at Royal Parade in March after serious structural issues were identified at the existing toilet block.
That provision is now set to be bolstered to meet rising demand ahead of the summer holidays, with the additional toilets due to be fully operational by Friday, June 19.
The additional facilities have been delivered and installation is now underway, with improved accessibility measures also due to be in place by the end of next week.
The leader of North Yorkshire Council, Cllr Carl Les, said: “It’s important that our communities have access to good public facilities, and we understand the frustration about the lack of public toilets on the coast, including in Filey and Scarborough.
“In both towns, we were left with little choice but to reluctantly close some toilets earlier this year for safety reasons, but have moved to install temporary provision as longer-term solutions are explored.”
NYC said it acted to increase the capacity after listening to feedback from residents and visitors, as well as recognising that large numbers of people are expected to visit the town over the summer period.
However, a lack of public toilets in Scarborough continues to be an issue following the closure of the Brunswick Centre.
Thomas Murray, the town mayor of Scarborough, has said he is disappointed that alternative town centre toilets were not provided by NYC, while residents have said that a lack of facilities in Scarborough town centre is putting people off visiting the high street and negatively impacting local businesses.
A Filey Town Council spokesperson commented: “We are pleased that North Yorkshire Council has responded to our request and increased the number of toilets for Royal Parade.
“This should help to accommodate and ease the demand for use of public conveniences over the summer period for residents and visitors.”
The public conveniences at Royal Parade were closed in February this year after serious structural issues were identified. The condition of the building had deteriorated due to structural defects, age, weathering, and a period of sustained adverse weather.
Cllr Les said: “Having listened to recent feedback from residents and visitors in Filey about queues and rising demand at peak times, it was clear that further action was needed.
“I’m pleased that we have been able to respond and install eight additional toilets at Royal Parade, more than doubling the current provision.
“This is a clear example of us taking proactive steps to improve public facilities for our communities.”
Longer-term proposals for the redevelopment and refurbishment of the site, including provision of permanent toilet facilities, will continue to be explored, according to the authority.
A fortnight after the Royal Parade facilities closed, structural issues were also identified at Building No1 on Scarborough’s West Pier, forcing the closure of both the building and its ground floor toilets.
Temporary toilets were “swiftly secured and installed” at the West Pier car park, directly opposite the existing building.
The council said that further work was being carried out to determine how long it may take to reinstate permanent facilities at West Pier.
Last month, Cllr Richard Foster, NYC’s executive member for managing the environment, said the authority was continuing to look at alternative provision in Scarborough’s town centre, and is still looking for partners that are “large enough that we can give them money so we can use their facilities in that area”.