New building could be cheaper than refurbishing Wick public toilets
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Plans to refurbish the disused public conveniences in Wick town centre could be dropped in favour of clearing the site and putting a new toilet block in place – potentially saving a six-figure sum in the process.
An upgrade of the existing Highland Council facility in Whitechapel Road would now be likely to cost £400,000 or more, compared with a figure of around £250,000 given previously.
It has been suggested that a new modular building could be provided instead for approximately £280,000.
The toilets have been closed since early 2020 after being targeted in a series of acts of vandalism.
An update was given by Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner at the January meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC) this week. He emphasised that "the commitment is still there" and "substantial funding is still there".
But he added: “We have had to acknowledge possible estimated cost increases by nearly £150,000. That's a serious amount of money for an upgrade of a toilet.
"We really need to be looking at other options as well and I’ve asked for other options to be looked at, including modular build. I’ve been committed to replacing this badly damaged and totally inadequate facility but we’ve got to make sure that we get the best return on any public investment.”
Councillor Bremner, who represents Wick and East Caithness on the local authority, pointed out that "modular builds have not gone up as substantially as the cost of renovating a building". He explained: "And that is a building that you can put in any way you like, so it doesn't need to be the shell of what we've got... We can actually clear the site and put in what we like."
Community councillors were informed in February last year that plans were in place to upgrade the Whitechapel Road toilets at a cost of some £250,000. Then, at their April meeting, they were told that a planning application had been submitted and the refurbished toilets could be open by the end of 2022.
At this week's RBWCC meeting, however, Councillor Bremner reported that a review had shown the costs of the project were continuing to rise.
He said the Highland Council team managing the project has been meeting monthly. "They are doing everything they can but, like many infrastructure projects, they have had to acknowledge substantial cost increases," he told community councillors.
“It’s difficult to comprehend just exactly how much costs are increasing in respect of infrastructure and build projects, with increasing fuel and energy costs, labour costs and inflation at one of the highest levels in years all contributing.”
Speaking later, Councillor Bremner said: “Initial agreed architect designs were worked on last year with input from engineers and a final design was agreed. The planning process was completed.
"The designs included charging gates, CCTV, new interior, new roof, disabled toilets, showering facilities and baby-changing facilities. It needs to be a quality facility that is sustainable.”
He stressed that previous funding identified for the project was still in place, with some flexibility, and that officials were continuing to progress the project through the tender process and review of options. He said he would continue to provide updates to the community council.
It is now more than a year and a half since RBWCC chairperson Joanna Coghill declared it was "no longer acceptable" for there to be no public conveniences in a town the size of Wick.
Speaking in June 2021, she said: "This Whitechapel Road saga has been going on for so long. Nearby villages have public loos – the town does not."
Highland Council has pointed out that toilets are available in the town centre through the comfort scheme within the Norseman Hotel, stating: "These are very well signposted and offer very high quality provision of facilities.”
