Abandoned public toilets to be used as office in Earlsdon

[dutchman]

The new place to do your business would be a small four-person office with a tiny kitchenette



An abandoned toilet block in Coventry could soon reopen for the first time in years - but with a rather different use. Plans to turn the old loos on Albany Road into a small four-person office with tiny kitchenette have been sent in for approval.

Six years ago, Coventry city council shut the the Earlsdon toilets along with five other public loos outside the centre. The move was part of £1.2 million worth of cuts to services by the council after its government funding was slashed by half.

News of the closures sparked an outcry from the public at the time, with the group Coventry Older Voices (COV) warning it "could further isolate older people within their own community." It added: "Many could find it difficult to visit shops and carry out other activities, knowing that they may not have the comfort of being able to use facilities if needed."

There were plans to turn the space into a cafe, but these have been set aside in favour of the office use. Photos taken last year show the block's toilets and urinals have already been ripped out, leaving piles of dust and plaster. Renovators will have to clear this and pull down the cubicle walls to make room for the workspace.

Floor plans drawn up for Coventry city council show the office will have four desks and a four-seater table, plus adjoining kitchenette and toilet. New windows onto the street are also set to be installed.

A public consultation on the plans is now open for comments until the end of the month, with a decision expected in October.