North Walsham toilets to open in early October

Date published: 27th September 2023

The new public toilets at Vicarage Street in North Walsham, delivered as part of the wider programme of investment made by North Norfolk District Council in North Walsham over the past three years, are due to open on Tuesday 3 October.

Within the facilities, there are male and female facilities, a family room, a 24 hour gender-neutral room, an accessible room and Changing Places facilities.

A new dedicated parking space is also provided immediately adjacent to the Changing Places facilities to assist residents and visitors using the Changing Place facility and other accessible parking spaces are also available within the Vicarage Street Car Park close to the new toilets.

The facilities are fitted with solar panels, which are already generating power for water heating and lighting within the toilets. The design is sympathetic to the area and it was built to maximize natural light within.

Cllr. Lucy Shires, portfolio holder for Finance, Estates & Property Services said:

“We’re pleased to see further investment in North Walsham and the increased accessibility in the town, with these new and much improved public toilets.

The new facilities are a remarkable increase on the previous offering - with water and energy efficiency, solar panel electricity generation and clever use of design which is sympathetic to the area; these exceptional toilets have raised the standards of service for residents, visitors and businesses alike.”

Russell Tanner, Assets & Property Programme Manager said:

“The facilities are due to open on Tuesday 3 October following the completion of the underground soakaway. With the opening of the Vicarage Street toilets, the Council now provides 5 Changing Places facilities across the district, ensuring that anyone with complex health and mobility issues can plan days out in the District confident that there are toilet facilities available to meet their needs.”

The Council has Changing Places facilities at the North Norfolk Visitors Centre in Cromer, The Reef Leisure Centre in Sheringham, Stearman’s Yard Car Park in Wells, Queens Road Car Park in Fakenham and now North Walsham. There are further schemes planned at The Leas in Sheringham and Albert Street in Holt.

A soakaway has been installed, which is a drainage system for surface water run-off, to discharge the water into the ground as opposed to the sewers via drainage. The benefit of a soakaway is that the surface water can be used for the garden area adjacent, where NNDC are working with North Walsham In Bloom to positively improve the environment and attraction of the town.

The Council regards the provision of high-quality public conveniences as a key service underpinning the District’s tourism offering as well as town centre economies. In the coming months, work will commence at Albert Street Car Park in Holt to bring improved toilets to the town.

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have contributed a £50k grant to the Changing Places provision at North Walsham.

View a full list of Public Toilets and Changing Places facilities