Work to start on new cemetery toilets

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NEW TOILETS will be built in Bromsgrove’s Cemetery after funding totalling £25,000 was agreed and allocated for the scheme at the full council meeting on Wednesday (January 18).

It was welcomed by Coun Rory Shannon and Coun Christopher Bloore who had campaigned on the issue.

Coun Shannon said: ‘’I am very pleased the council made the decision, but it’s not before time.

“Public pressure had been mounting.’’

Coun Bloore addeid: ‘’When we started this campaign to make the toilet facilities fit for purpose, we were told it needed more consideration, that we didnt know how many people used the toilets, that it might set a precedent for other areas to demand these facilities.

“Of course Bromsgrove residents should expect decency when visiting their loved ones in our cemeteries and I am delighted that after spending thousands on a temporary solution, we are now finally getting round to giving residents a ‘fit for purpose’ facility that offers the very basic amenities a front of house service should offer.”

There is currently no hand-washing equipment, suffcient lighting or a working outside tap and a portable toilet the council have provided was, according to Coun Bloore, costing £600-a-month.

There were fears about the funds being granted because, although the priority of the matter had been upgraded from medium to high, it had also been taken off capital budget for a fourth time, at a meeting in early January.

Bromsgrove District Council leader Roger Hollingworth brought the issue up at the meeting.

He said the council had been looking for some time at building the new toilets and the issue was taken out of the capital programme as the process would have taken some time.

He added he was happy the cash had been released to fund the build.

“We thought: ‘why waste time going round the beauractatic process when this was an emergency and needed doing?’.”

Work will start immediately and security will also be upgraded to ensure the toilets are protected from vandalism.