Barnstaple Bus Station toilets ‘could open by Easter'

Toilets at Barnstaple bus station which were shut after they became an anti-social hotspot could reopen by Easter.

Passengers complained after the loos were closed by North Devon Council during the pandemic because of rising anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Council leader Ian Roome told members of its strategy and resources committee that they would be presented with options next month, including for a cafe, and he hoped the toilets would be open for Easter.

He said the layout of the building was such that the toilets were not very visible and so became a prime target for misuse.

There are long-term plans by Barnstaple Town Council to redevelop the bus station into a community hub complete with a tourist information centre, cafe and maybe a health facility.

Cllr Roome said the project is subject to funding bids being successful and is ‘some way off’.

He said the district council had some funding to get the toilets reopened quicker that would not affect the larger project which is expected to cost in around £500,000.

Cllr Pru Maskell said it is important that people, especially the elderly, have access to toilets at the bus station where they may have to wait for long periods, and is pleased that people would be able to buy refreshments.

During the pandemic, the cafe and waiting room also closed and there was criticism that it puts people off coming to the town.

In October, the council told the Gazette the current layout and lack of onsite supervision at the bus station had led to anti-social behaviour, criminal activity and incidents of mental and physical abuse, meaning it was just too unsafe to reopen.

The consensus was the building would need alteration to its downstairs layout so the more secluded areas such as the toilets did not invite further problems.

Conservative MP for North Devon Selaine Saxby has campaigned to reopen the building after complaints from constituents.

And Barnstaple town clerk Rob Ward said: “The bus station is a busy place, and although we have other public toilets in the town, by the time they visit them and come back, the bus has been and gone.

“A lot of older people travel on the buses and not having toilets here means it affects their confidence.”