BTC office and public toilet survey
Bingley Town Council launched a public consultation today, Saturday 2nd December 2017, into the possibility of a Community Asset Transfer and developing the toilet site into useful office space for the Town Council and retaining public toilets for Bingley.
To go ahead with this development, Bingley Town Council has to consult the public. This is essential for both the loan application to the Public Works Loans Board and the application to Bradford District Council for a Community Asset Transfer. Further information including the financial details can be found in the document section of this website.
There has to be evidence of broad public support for the plans. That is why it is so important that you contribute to the consultation and share your views. The consensus of public opinion will inform Bingley Town Council’s next steps. If most respondents are in favour of the scheme, it is likely that Bingley Town Council will go ahead. If most respondents are not in favour, it is likely that Bingley Town Council will not go ahead.
Please read the public consultation documents which are available in the documents section of this website and then the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BTCconsultation. You can view the public consultation documents and download a copy of the survey at https://bingleytowncouncil.gov.uk/documents/ or pick up a hard copy version at Bingley Library or Cottingley Cornerstone Centre. Please ensure your completed surveys are returned by the 31st December 2017.
If you have any other questions or wish to discuss any aspects of the plans further, please contact the Town Clerk enquiries@bingleytowncouncil.gov.uk  07703 188660.
Please read the documents and complete the survey, your views are vitally important.
I am certainly in favour of making the existing building of public toilets into an office and new public toilets. From a health point of view a toilet bock is essential for young and old people as well as visiting tourists.
We have no objection to the plans but emphasise the great need for a public toilet/s to be retained in Bingley. The various health conditions particularly elderly people, such as ourselves, makes the need for this easily accessible convenience very important.
For the toilets to close would be a waste of the asset.
The ongoing cost of maintaining the toilet should be offset by the increased benefit to the community of the higher footfall and presence of people who can be certain of toilet facilities in a central location.
Locating Bingley Town Council adjacent and integral to the toilets provides numerous benefits
. Bingley Town Council office is located in the heart of Bingley, with ideal focus and readily accessible to the community
. Policing of the toilets is achieved by people with the interests of Bingley foremost in their minds
. I don’t know if there is a tourist information centre in Bingley, but that could be included there as a kernel and possibly relocated if it grows too large for the building
. Could a 2 storey building be made on the site by adding a lightweight 1st floor?
I have no objection to BTC taking over the toilets and running them. However, they don’t need a full time attendant. All they need is a daily clean and replenish similar to Dale’s toilets and this can be outsourced. There is no need to convert them to pay toilets either.
I am wholly opposed to conversion to offices as this creates a huge overhead for BTC and yields a 32 year break even, which is a folly.
I believe that this will be of benefit to the whole community. It will create a point of access for residents with the Town Council AND retain public facilities ( essential when community events take place). This will be a positive step forward in raising the profile of the valuable work that the Council does and can only add to all efforts to maintain standards in the town.
According to your proposed plan, the Store room seems to rather large and unnecessary in view of there being a cleaning cupboard already and only two public toilets (ladies and gents).
If this were not included it would make a meeting room of a decent size. Also, I am mystified about the access to the disabled toilet and how a wheelchair could get in, Would it not be cheaper to halve the existing block and build an office/meeting room section on to it?
Good idea will kill 2 birds with one stone
Thank you all for your comments. It really is vitally important that the community give their views on these proposals. Please encourage family and friends to read all the available information and complete a survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BTCconsultation.
Many thanks,
Laura Jowett
Administrative Officer
I am totally in favour of this proposal.
Excellent idea and keeps the toilet facility in a good location for elderly people around the square
Thank you for your comments Mr Stonebridge. Have you completed the survey? https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BTCconsultation
Best wishes,
Laura Jowett
Administrative Officer
why was the rest not offered the survey especially those that were against .manipulation for the purposes of gaining your outcome ..
Dear Lee,
Thank you for your comment. The survey was widely advertised including holding two public consultation events, posts on Facebook and two articles in the Telegraph and Argus newspaper.
Kind regards
Ruth Batterley
Could this special facility be something that the proposed Lidl could be asked to provide as part of its new development or at the least help fund the facility at Bingley Pool ?
Hello David,
Thank you for your comment.
The Town Council has been informed that there will be one toilet available to members of the public at the proposed Lidl supermarket. The plans for the supermarket are now approved, but it may be in time if the Changing Places facility is agreed for Bingley Pool that the Town Council seeks support with funding for the Changing Places facility from organisations within Bingley, including Lidl. It is too early to say how this may develop.
Kind regards
Ruth Batterley
Town Clerk