Safety concerns spark closure of seaside loos

A block of public toilets on the North Yorkshire coast has been closed after "serious" structural issues were found following recent heavy rainfall.

The toilets on Royal Parade in Filey were already planned for demolition due to the poor state of the building, but North Yorkshire Council said it was "left with no alternative" but to close them on Friday as the deterioration had since accelerated.

Arrangements were in place to install temporary toilets on Royal Parade before the end of next month, the council said.

Gary Fielding, the council's corporate director of resources, said: "It is clear that the building's structure poses significant health and safety risks and cannot remain open."

A cafe that sits adjacent to the toilet block has also been forced to close for safety reasons.

In August, a plan to demolish the toilets was approved.

At the time, councillors were told that "substantial and costly remediation" was necessary to ensure the building's long-term stability.

A meeting heard that a design for replacement toilets would be commissioned following the demolition of the current structure.

After the decision on Friday to shut the building due to the impact of recent rainfall, Fielding explained: "We inherited this site from the former borough council after years of underinvestment.

"Work had already started on how it could be redeveloped before its condition recently worsened following the sustained period of wet weather.

"This work includes proposals for the installation of new permanent toilet facilities and retail units and ways to make the area more aesthetically appealing for users."

Before temporary facilities were installed, a number of alternative toilet facilities in the area could be found by visiting North Yorkshire Council's website, the authority said.

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