A new disabled accessible loo in Scunthorpe town centre has had to close within weeks of opening due to the cold weather.
It comes as ward councillors called for further improvements in public lavatory provision. Scunthorpe Live first reported in November 2022 of plans for a Changing Place toilet outside HSBC in Wells Street, Scunthorpe. This location was scrapped by the council after utility companies said it wasn’t feasible.
So the plans migrated over to outside Scunthorpe Central Library, with a new planning application made in autumn 2023. Works finally began in the first half of 2024. By mid-summer, it looked from the outside more or less complete.
Yet fencing remained around it for another six months. The loo finally opened in December 2024. But the New Year has seen another hitch for the unfortunate toilet.
A North Lincolnshire Council spokesperson said: “The Changing Places toilet opened on Monday 9 December but is currently closed due to the freezing cold weather and frozen water pipes.”
Call for more public toilets in Scunthorpe town centre
Labour’s Town Ward Cllrs Mashook Ali and Lorraine Yeadon said they were pleased a new toilet is finally coming in, but called for more public toilets in the town, noting loo deserts.
“It has been a very long time coming. It has been grossly unfair to residents who need such facilities that they have not been available in the town centre,” said Cllr Ali. “Problems continue in providing other appropriate toilet facilities in the town centre too,” said Cllr Yeadon.
“Many residents have to find a toilet quickly when the need arises and a substantial walk to find a toilet would not be work for them. In fact, there are no public toilets available in the High Street. Using facilities in café’s usually requires a purchase which can be prohibitive to people on a tight budget. There are public conveniences at Britannic Corner, the multi-storey car park (only if you are parking there), Dunstall Street at the Fire Station end, and the Bus Station, but nothing in between.
Changing Places loo looking ready – in July 2024. It remained imprisoned within fencing until last month
(Image: LDR)
“So, our public conveniences are, in fact, not very convenient. We need the council to do better.” The availability of disabled toilets in the town centre was raised by Scunthorpe voters in a general election feature by Scunthorpe Live.
Scunthorpe Live enquired with the council about the cost of the loo, and what caused it to be fenced off for much of last year, despite looking ready. An original quote in 2022 for the loo being in Wells Street was £63,000. To find your nearest Changing Places toilet, click here.
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