Town's public toilets given £30,000 overhaul

Grace Wood
BBC News, Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Council A stone building toilet block with signs for Gentlemen and LadiesNorth Yorkshire Council
The refurbishment work cost at total of £30,848

Public toilets in a North Yorkshire market town have been given a £30,000 refurbishment.

The work on the facilities on Borogate in Helmsley included installing a disabled toilet, replacing the urinals in the men's toilets and removing tiling for a more hygienic alternative.

The building's ironwork has also been restored and new window frames, flooring and handrails put in.

The work cost a total of £30,848, with funding coming from the Thirsk and Malton Area Committee Fund as well as councillors' locality funds.

All councillors are given £5,000 per year to distribute.

North Yorkshire Council A man in a suite wearing a blue shirt and white tie stands next to a woman in a black top and green jacket. They are standing outside the toilet blockNorth Yorkshire Council
Councillors George Jabbour and Lindsay Burr backed the project

Councillor George Jabbour said he was "delighted" to have been able to contribute some locality funding to enable the work to go ahead

He said: "The toilet facilities on Borogate are well used by both residents and visitors and perform a vital function in a busy market town.

"People comment on the standard of public toilets, and so it is important that we give a good impression to those who may be visiting the town, as well as providing improved facilities for residents."

Councillor Nigel Knapton said he was pleased to see cross-party support for the project.

"This is money well spent. The fact that councillors were able to come together to ensure the work was able to be carried out is even more satisfying," he said.

While the work was carried out, members of the public were redirected to alternative toilets in the Cleveland Way car park.

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