A REQUEST for thousands of pounds to draw up plans to rent out public toilets out for use as a retaurant were narrowly rejected by councillors last night (Tuesday, September 27).
Earlier this month a scheme was proposed to rent out the public conveniences in Bakers Lane, just off Epping High Street, for use as a restaurant in a bid to save the thousands of pounds in maintenance costs while boosting rental revenue.
Councillors who supported the scheme claimed that an agreement would be reached with whoever chose to hire the premises to keep the toilets open to the public.
Last night, at a full meeting of Epping Forest District Council, councillors debated whether £5000 should be released to fund a consultation on the plans.
Defending the scheme, council leader Lesley Wagland said that council officers had shown initiative in coming up with the idea, and that the plans were only at a very early stage.
She added: “There have been some enormously successful examples of this.
“The purpose of this is to spend money to find out if it’s feasible."
However, the request was rejected by 17 votes to 15, with councillors arguing that there had been problems with anti-social behaviour at the Bakers Lane car park in the recent past which could emerge again if a late night takeaway were to rent the premises.
They also said that Epping already had a glut of restaurants and takeaways, with there being 25 along the High Street already.
Epping district councillor Jon Whitehouse, who voted against the plans, said: “I am pleased that councillors took a common sense approach and listened to my arguments.
"It's good to bring forward innovative ideas, but the likely impact on neighbours and practical problems mean it really wasn't worth spending local taxpayers money on consultants to pursue this particular plan."
Barry Seager, chairman of the Epping Town Partnership, said: “It was a very sensible decision by the council. I do not know how it would have worked.
“A restaurant owner would have been taking on an unknown deal. If it were me I am not sure I would want up to 100 people a day using the toilet on my premises. Plus, there would be extra cost of bills and maintenance.”
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