Barnstaple bus station toilets experience delay

People will have to cross their legs a bit longer as bus station toilets in Barnstaple did not open this Easter as expected.

Councillors in North Devon heard last week that the new lavatory and cafe plan at the bus station was going to be bigger and better than originally planned.

The loos, at the busy transport hub, closed during the pandemic because of a rise in anti-social behaviour and vandalism, along with the cafe and waiting room.

Being out of sight from the public meant the toilets became a target for misuse.

North Devon Council, Devon County Council and Barnstaple Town Council, which has ambitions to create a community hub in the bus station building, are collaborating on the project which will now see a new toilet in the former kitchen area and a cafe at the former ticket office.

North Devon Council leader Ian Roome said: “After looking at it again we decided to carry out a better scheme, giving the toilets a complete new area. Rather than a rush-job before Easter we wanted to do a proper job and make it more viable.”

He said interest had been received from people wanting to run the cafe and a tender would be chosen for the work after the bank holiday.