A public toilet block in Arnold town centre is set to close after being targeted by vandals.
Nottinghamshire Police has now called on Gedling Borough Council to close the public toilets on Wood Street permanently following an increase in anti-social behaviour.
The council has now taken the decision to close the facilities following the publication of a report sent to leader Cllr John Clarke MBE.
The report said: “Over the past couple of years, the frequency of incidents relating to antisocial behaviour and vandalism has increased and it was becoming increasingly challenging to continue to manage the facility safely
“Over recent months there have been issues with drug use, intimidation and/or significant vandalism to fixtures and fittings, as well as graffiti.
“The most recent and serious incident resulted in a recommendation from Nottinghamshire Police to close the public conveniences due to the lewd activities being carried out at the site which appear to be attracting people from outside the borough for no other reason.”
The report went on to recommend that, in order to protect the public from such anti-social behaviours it is therefore recommended, in conjunction with Nottinghamshire Police’s recommendation that the public conveniences at Wood Street are closed permanently.
A purpose built public toilet provision along with Changing Places facilities was recently put in place in King George V Park which the report suggests can be used instead of Wood Street and ‘therefore there is still adequate provision with the Town Centre’.
It was also noted that retail stores such as ASDA offer public conveniences in close proximity to Wood Street.
The Wood Street Public Conveniences have been an asset of The Council since circa 1980s, providing toilet provision for residents and visitors of Arnold Town Centre.
It is not known yet when the public toilets will be closed.
