Public toilets at Seahouses and Holy Island are set to have a new lease of life, as work is due to start on major refurbishments. 

 

The toilets in the main car park at Seahouses and on Green Lane on Holy Island will be revamped during the winter months, ready for a new season of visitors next spring. 

 

Work is due to start on 4 January 2021 and will take up to 10 weeks at Seahouses and up to 20 weeks at Holy Island. 

 

Both schemes will include replacement of the mechanical and electrical installations, replacement of all sanitaryware, refurbishment of the internal fabric to the buildings, and creation of a new ‘Changing Places’ fully accessible disabled toilet facility.   

 

Cllr Glen Sanderson, leader of council and cabinet member for local services and the environment said: “We are extremely pleased to be investing in improvements to these important visitor facilities.   

 

“People love to visit our coastal towns and villages, and that has been demonstrated even more keenly this year.  When they arrive we want them to have access to top quality facilities, and these refurbishments will ensure this, and make these great visitor destinations accessible to all. 

 

“Up and down the country, councils are closing public toilets, but in Northumberland we are bucking that trend and are investing in ours.” 

 

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, county councillor for the Bamburgh ward, said: “I am very pleased to see this full refurbishment of the public toilets in Seahouses. 

 

"This latest investment to improve our tourism infrastructure comes on the back of earlier work to reopen the tourist information centre, extend and resurface the overflow car park, and provide electric vehicle charging points.   

 

"It all demonstrates the county council's commitment to Seahouses and our local economy by making sure that tourist facilities are truly fit for purpose." 

 

Cllr Roderick Lawrie, county councillor for Norham and the Islandshires, added: “I am very pleased to say this work will greatly improve the facilities for tourists visiting beautiful Holy Island.” 

 

Temporary toilets will be provided in both locations for the duration of the work. 

 

The main contractor at Seahouses will be Ashbrook Construction, and on Holy Island Kapex Construction. 

 

On Holy Island, depending on the tide times, the contractors may work a little later into the evenings on some weekdays.  However, they will keep any work that generates noise to a minimum after 6pm wherever possible.  

 

Safety fencing, signs and other measures to ensure will be put in place to ensure public safety, and the contractors do not envisage working at weekends or during public holidays.