New hope for bus station toilets

Thetford's boarded-up bus station toilets could be reopened to the public - if coach companies are prepared to pay for their maintenance.

The decision by Breckland Council to close the run-down lavatories at the town's bus station was described as “deplorable” by a county councillor earlier this year.

But Thetford Town Council could be about to step in and save the derelict public loos, after mass complaints from passengers and residents.

Ed Chambers, town clerk, is set to write to every local and national coach company that operates from the Bridge Street station to see if they would financially contribute towards the upkeep of the toilets.

The public toilets, which have previously been described as the “worst” in Norfolk, were boarded up in February, leaving passengers with a long hike to the other side of the town centre to find a loo.

Officials at Breckland Council said the building needed “considerable investment” at a time when it was transferring the management of other toilets in Thetford to the town council and the district council was working with Norfolk County Council to relocate the bus station.

But town councillor Stuart Wright has called on Thetford Town Council to intervene after receiving many complaints from residents about the closure of the toilets

Mr Wright said that it would only cost £2,000 a year to pay for the electricity, water and sewage bills at the bus station loos.

“It is probably going to be another two years before the bus station is moved and there is a need for a facility there now. From April 1, the town council is taking over the management of the Cage Lane and Castle Park toilets and the extra cleaning costs of opening the bus station toilets will not break the bank,” he said.