THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

New Bloxwich public toilets: illustrations courtesy Walsall Council

Dateline: 21 November 2009

Bloxwich's legendary public toilets are due to be replaced at long last by brand spanking new bogs - but not until Autumn next year.

Following public consultation which began in September 2008, the final designs showing how the new lavatories went on show in Bloxwich Library before its closure on 31 October. The Bloxidge Tallygraph is now able to make available for download A4 copies of the plans which went on show, via these links - Plan A, Plan B - courtesy of Walsall Council.

The new toilet development, which is tied in with other changes being made as part of the A34 Red Route and Bus Showcase schemes, will see the existing toilet block - which it is believed was built in the late 1950s  - demolished.  It will be rebuilt from scratch to modern standards but with a welcome nod towards heritage design and building materials which are more in keeping with the period character of Bloxwich than some of the ideas at first mooted.

The new block will include single WC's for male and female, an extended disabled toilet, baby changing room and caretaker's room. 

Sadly, these facilities will not now be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week as previously announced.  Instead the proposed hours have been cut to 7am - 5pm , Monday - Saturday, which offers no improvement over the present situation. 

At a meeting of Bloxwich, Leamore & Blakenall Retailers Traders Partnership on Thursday night, disappointment was expressed at this news and a request made for Walsall Council to reconsider, and at least have half-day or longer opening on Sundays, something which has been lacking for many years and which is seen as out of date at a time when Sunday trading and travel is increasing in the village. 

It was also requested that the Council look into  what could be done to improve the present dirty and poorly-maintained public toilets, which have been neglected for decades, as it would be a long time before they were replaced. 

Any developments will be reported here in due course.

 The present oft-reviled "Bloxwich Bogs" at the main bus stop, High Street (Picture: Stuart Williams)

The new design, while small, meets modern 'bog' standards and is much more in keeping with the largely Victorian character of central Bloxwich than some initial proposals. It is similar in character to the Pelsall public toilets which were opened in the early 2000s.

It is hoped demolition will begin in Summer 2010 with building work starting late Autumn as part of the Red Route developments. While the work is taking place the contractors will provide and maintain temporary toilets.

Earlier story link here.

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