Medziotojas Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 You couldn't make it up: COMMUNITY councillors in a small Shetland village are flushing with rage after discovering their brand new public loos have not been connected to the mains water supply. Architects only realised the "oversight" when the £55,000 toilets in Walls, on Shetland’s west side, were completed last month. Local councillor Frank Robertson described the incident as "unfortunate", blaming the builder for forgetting to apply to Scottish Water for a connection. He said he had no idea when the public convenience would be open for public use. The toilets are next to the village hall and only need a few metres of pipe to reach running water. They are the latest in an island-wide loo building programme, which the council is having to curtail due to lack of funding. http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/news_11_2008/New%20loos%20not%20up%20to%20the%20job.htm And another thing; are the proposed new toilets on the esplanade really necessary? Couldn't the existing toilets be refurbished at a much lower cost? I know it probably isn't the most attractive building in Lerwick, but nothing a lick of paint and a refurb wouldn't fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 The port authority has plans for a visitor centre for cruise ships where the toilets are at present. http://www.lerwick-harbour.co.uk/pdfs/stratbusplan.pdf The Authority intends to refurbish or redevelop Harbour House in Lerwick town centre. As part of this project, the Authority is working together with Shetland Islands Council to replace the existing town centre public toilets. Should the toilets move from the existing Esplanade site, the Authority has a plan to develop that space to complement cruise passenger facilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bridgman-Elliot Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 At least you have them where you are, down south they have been closing them down for years, and now selling them off! http://www.money.co.uk/article/1001790-london-public-toilet-sells-for-403-000-pounds.htm > Walham Green Toilets on North End Road, Fulham went for> an astounding £403,000 at auction on Monday after a competitive> bidding war pushed its asking price through the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 > Walham Green Toilets on North End Road, Fulham went for> an astounding £403,000 at auction on Monday after a competitive> bidding war pushed its asking price through the roof. Taking 'Spending a Penny' to extremes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para Handy Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 The Shetland version of Clochemerle (A rural French town attempts to erect a public urinal) I wonder who the old dear with the Binoculars would be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances144 Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 The existing bogs are, I think, by the New Pier which is not very near to anything. Abit like the ones at Sandness which are in Melby (and that is quite a trek to spend a penny!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Doesn't anybody think that £55,000 is a bit steep for a very small public piddling facility?Or is this just a sign of the times in the Shetland building trade? Although, I have to admit it is a lot cheaper than the new one proposed for the Esplanade... Or the new one proposed for the North Ness,, Mareel? I think they are calling it.. Joking about that bit, Honest... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandcars Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 The walls hall has recently been extended (which is right next to the new toilets), i dont know if this included work to the toilets or not, however why couldn't they have just added an outside door to the toilets in the community centre and an indoor locking door to the centre. Some cash change hands and hey presto Why build 2 sets of community toilets within 20 yards of each other....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para Handy Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 SIC flushed with success The council has been doing a time and motion study SHETLANDERS are feeling an increasing urge to use the new public toilets at Lerwick’s Esplanade, according to statistics released by the local council yesterday (Monday).Shetland Islands Council has been taken aback by the volume of people using the new loos since they opened at the end of June. The £420,000 facility next door to the refurbished Harbour House saw 432 large rolls of toilet paper flushed away in the past three months, almost twice the amount used during the same period last year at the old Esplanade lavatories. Toilet attendant John Sim said the new building was hugely popular with the public, and that women in particular seem to like the new, bright and airy facility, designed by Nick Brett, of Richard Gibson Architects. He said he had lots of satisfied customers, with up to 150 people an hour turning up at lunch time and other peak periods. Some folk say they have witnessed crowds of female office workers and shop assistants using the new conveniences before going to work. SIC cleansing services manager Jonathan Emptage said he was very happy with the response so far, and was considering supplying a visitors’ book for people to leave comments. “The new toilets are easier to get to and that helps particularly older people. They also have the latest equipment to help people with disabilities.†In fact, the Esplanade toilet is only one of 12 in the whole of Scotland that meet the standards of the charity Changing Places, which campaigns for fully accessible toilets. The council was able to build the new toilets after swapping a piece of ground with Lerwick Port Authority. Later this month the port will demolish the former facility on the other side of the road and use the land to build a ‘welcome pavilion’ for cruise ship visitors. And unlike other local authorities, Shetland intends to ensure “spending a penny†remains one of the last free things there are in life. “The council has no plans to charge for the use of the public toilets,†Mr Emptage confirmed. "up to 150 people an hour" Thats 0.4 persons every 60 seconds Do they have that many pans, The seats must never get cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted October 5, 2009 Report Share Posted October 5, 2009 ^^^They are a lot more salubrious than the old ones. No wonder they are popular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulb Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 150 visitors an hour. i hope they have a good vent system. apply for grant and get put it on visit shetland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJ of Hildisvik Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 Perhaps a plasma TV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Styumpie Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 1/2 a million pounds to build a crapper, Its good to know my taxes is not being squandered Imagen the size of house you could build for £420 thousand, at around £1000 m2 probably enough to hold around 4-500 cubicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxFusion Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 "up to 150 people an hour" Thats 0.4 persons every 60 seconds Shocked no, more like 2.5 ppl a minute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulb Posted October 6, 2009 Report Share Posted October 6, 2009 at least the seats will be warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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