Plans to renovate Queen's Promenade's public toilets have been put on hold after the project was the only rejected proposal at last week's community infrastructure funding meeting (27 February).

While councillors agreed the facilities were in dire need of development, the plans presented were considered poor value for money.

The application was for around £120,000 of an over £773,000 fund collected from nearby private development projects as part of the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy.

Paul Cohoon, Kingston Council's High Street Regeneration Officer introduced the works. saying: "I do see this as a critical infrastructure [...] It's not just a physical infrastructure – it's a social infrastructure".

The council officer explained how public toilets "[allow] people, especially of an older age, to come out of their home [and] reduces social isolation".

Renovations would include CCTV and water points for use by visitors and volunteer gardeners of local Queen's Promenade Friends group.

Members of the Kingston and North Kingston Neighbourhood Committee have asserted that the plans were rejected on the basis that funds should be reserved for a more thorough reconfiguration of the public toilets.

Cllr Noel Hadjimichael described how "the need is transparent, it's broad-based. We need to get this facility right".

Cllr Roger Hayes described the £280,000 price tag for a full rennovation of the pictured facility as 'eye-watering' (Photo: Oliver Monk)

However, he was among a number of councillors who wanted any significant investment to offer more than a restoration of the facility.

The proposal had costed four options, which according to Mr Cohoon ranged from "essential repairs [...] barebones to make it safe" for £90,000 to "a gutting and replacement of the toilets" for £280,000.

The initial budget was for the second-cheapest option, consisting of a partial internal refurbishment and essential repairs to the building itself. 

Upon counting the vote, committee chair Cllr Olly Wehring said: "I think the answer is 'yes', but not sure if it's this."

Many councillors saw the selected option as short-term and poor value for money; a frequent suggestion was to commit more funding to a complete reconfiguration to a more modern design where all cubicles would open to the promenade itself.

Such a design would ensure more equitable access to toilet facilities while preventing antisocial behaviour as "there'd be less dark corners, more natural surveillance" according to Mr Cohoon.

The officer told the committee that such a design would come under the plan's fourth, most expensive option, which he described as "a significant investment" for a building of 10 square metres.

Cllr John Sweeny replied: "I struggle to understand how it can cost £280,000 to put four toilets in an existing building [...] who is building this? How are we going about this?"

This was echoed by Cllr Nicola Nardelli, saying: "During the period these toilets were closed, I had so much casework, and so many complaints about it. The toilets are definitely needed, one-hundred percent [...] But it is the price that is the issue."

"That does seem a ridiculous amount more money, but, long-term, it will save on maintenance," responded Cllr Ian George.

This didn't deter Cllr Roger Hayes from describing the cost as "eye-watering," adding: "Without too much exaggeration, you could build a small house for £280,000 [...] it is baffling."

The public toilets have been described as 'critical infrastructure' by Kingston Council's High Street Regeneration Officer (Photo: Oliver Monk)

Cllr Wehring summarised the discussion, saying: "It's curious that this application is so absolutely on-point for this funding stream [but] that that's not what the topic of discussion is, it's just how it's going to be done."

The committee decided to reconvene at a later, undecided date for a special meeting regarding the new, more comprehensive refurbishment plan.

However, Mr Cohoon warned councillors that "if we don't have this investment in this project at the moment there is a real risk that this repair won't be able to be done in the future, and it might be that these toilets are shuttered."