A Wirral park is set to get temporary public toilets this summer, after the council faced a public backlash following the destruction of the park's previous facilities.
Vale Park, in New Brighton, will get temporary toilets over the summer while a new permanent block is being built. The popular park had well-used public toilets until Storm Arwen damaged the building beyond repair in November last year.
After the facilities were destroyed, Sean Martin, chair of the New Brighton Coastal Community Team, was worried Vale Park could lose its popularity without the toilets being restored.
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Mr Martin said: “The park is hopefully going to be there for future generations and if we do not ensure that the facilities there are maintained it will lose some of its appeal. During events like Joytime there can be 1,000 people in the park with no toilet facilities except for the small toilet in the Coffee Roast Cafe which should be for customers but they kindly allow anyone to use it when possible.”
Mr Martin said he wanted the new toilet block to be a “period style building with modern facilities”, but had been told the council does not have the money to provide this.
Mr Martin teamed up with Labour councillors and community activists to launch a campaign for new facilities, and now toilets will return to the park sooner than anticipated, in time for the school summer holidays.
Cllr Paul Martin, who represents New Brighton, said: “After a long campaign we now have a guarantee that public toilet provision will be reinstated at Vale Park, ahead of the upcoming summer events.
“This is a great result that was achieved following the work of Labour councillors - notably my ward colleagues Tony Jones and Cllr Sue Powell-Wilde, residents and community groups."
The site is a favourite for small children, with its mini fairy village, troll tree, memory garden, tooth fairy house, fairy clothes line, and hidden surprises set amidst the bushes and trees. And now Cllr Martin has expressed his gratitude towards the people who've helped to secure the new facilities.
He said: “It’s a really good example of a community coming together, and very much worth noting the efforts of New Brighton Coastal Community Team, the staff at Vale House and the organisers of the Joytime and other summer events at Vale Park, as well as Jeanette Royle at Wirral Borough for giving her assurances that this would happen. Thanks to all those that have campaigned on this matter.
“Above all, thanks to each resident who has taken the time to get in touch about this, be it via email, telephone call, or Facebook comment. It genuinely has made a huge difference.”
The move comes after the council confirmed that it will close five of its nine public toilets in the borough at a committee meeting last week.
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