Plans to build a public toilet block and kiosk in The Carrs have not been shelved but they have been stalled whilst Wilmslow Town Council and local councillors attempt to secure support from Cheshire East Council.
Wilmslow's Cheshire East councillors have been working on this project for a number of years and two years ago it was costed at £130,000. The original plans that were put forward have since been revised and scaled down and the latest costs Wilmslow Town Council has are between £110,000 and £125,000 - the majority of which would need to be funded by them.
Cheshire East Council was expected to provide some 106 money for the project, which could account for £30,000, but this has not been guaranteed. However, Wilmslow Town Council has agreed to set aside £65,000.
The project has also been delayed because Cheshire East Council has been closing public toilets, or devolving the responsibility and cost for managing them to town and parish councils - so building new toilets is not on their agenda.
Cllr Martin Watkins, Chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, said "The problem here is that we are being told by Cheshire East, who are controlling the 106 money that we'd like to get our hands on, that there isn't the political will to do toilets because the council doesn't do toilets full stop, it wants to get rid of them.
"What we're proposing is building toilets and then handing them over to us to run but that's why Gary (Barton) has been having meetings with Cheshire East and the Wilmslow councillors to try to get them to see there is a need here so we can progress."
Cllr Gary Barton responded "The local councillors are on board it is just making the proposal and the budget for it."
Cllr Martin Watkins added "The costings we have got for the toilets range from £110,000 to about £125,000, one of the reasons is we have to go through the procurement exercise with Cheshire East because they control the 106 monies. It may be possible to do it cheaper ourselves but the land belongs to Cheshire East and they would have to agree that they would give us the land. This is the problem we've got, it is taking an awful long time and Cheshire East are not really motivated at the moment to make a decision."
Town Clerk Matthew Jackson said "We have now got numbers from two separate companies and there appears to be sufficient funding from the money we have set aside plus the 106 that Cheshire East have got to progress without increasing our budget. I believe from the quotes I've received in that we could do something within the budget we've set and that of Cheshire East.
"It is purely determining the political will within Cheshire East to pursue that and at that stage once they have confirmed that the will is there to commit that money then it will have to come back to this council to make a decision as to whether we want to spend our money for these toilets."
The costs quoted above include building a kiosk which would help recuperate the build costs over time and mean that someone would be on site from a security perspective, however this aspect of the project could be removed to reduce costs.
Cllr Gary Barton added "I think it's just finding the right proposal to move it forward now. It's not that there is not the will it's just a case of finding the right way to do it. Using 106 money, which is allocated for specific projects, has opened up legal questions so we may just find other ways to do it but it has been identified by myself, Cllr Rod Menlove and Cllr Don Stockton as a priority for Wilmslow."
Do you think toilets are needed in The Carrs? Share your views via the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
CEC - thanks for letting WTC know AFTER they had put in the effort.
Two conservative controlled councils! One holds on to our money and the other doesn't know how to get it.
Democracy has failed in Cheshire East and not for the first time. Wilmslow will never get what it wants, because CEC treats us as a cash cow. Look at our broken and filthy pavements, street lighting not working, damaged or missing signage, or a major unwanted planning application approved by strangers.
There is considerable local pride in our town, witnessed by the many local initiatives and societies. It pains me that this isn't respected by CEC.
A very sad day.
However, an idea ..........
The parish hall has lavatories. WTC have their office there. Simple!
Let the public use them.
Use the kitchen too, so food and drinks can be sold. Sell a franchise including maintenance of the lavatories. Over to you WTC.
However, still doesn't get our money back from CEC.
Finally, for Grove St; at Bank Sq end there is a prominent corner office, empty for at least a decade, advertising for sale, overseas properties. Get the owner to open it up and let the public use the lavatories. Very convenient for Artisan market visitors, so to speak. There are also very convenient office blocks close by - ideal IMHO.
In the longer term a kiosk is a good idea and would prove popular as well as generate income. Much healthier to have kiosk selling pastries and flapjacks than icecream van.
The parish hall is owned by the church and is for the use of the staff there and those hiring the hall. The church do not want to provide public toilet facilities for a number of reasons. There are public toilets at Waitrose, but that is a little bit of a walk, especially if accompanied by young children.
other end of the Carrs due to vandalism why would this be any different. ? It would make sense to re open
the toilets by Sainsbury's and portable toilets are better than nothing.
Simple.
Use the money saved to improve the park facilities in Alderley edge park and everyone is happy.
Please tell me why it's,
Much healthier to have kiosk selling pastries and flapjacks than ice cream van.