RESIDENTS and visitors in Minehead were waiting to see whether the harbourside tourist area will have public toilets available in time for the busy late spring bank holiday weekend.

There have been widespread complaints that since the Quay West facilities closed for repairs more than two weeks ago with the nearest public toilets nearly a mile away in the town.

“We have signed a contract for portable toilets to be put in while the Quay West toilets are repaired and upgraded over the next two or three months,” said town Cllr Terry Venner, whose ward includes the seafront.

“We are hoping that the temporary facilities will be in place by this weekend’s spring bank holiday.

“It is unfortunate that this has happened but we are doing our best to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.”

Cllr Venner said delays in the £60,000 upgrade project were mainly caused by hold-ups in the town council taking over the building from the then-district council and legal complexities involving the freehold.

He said: “We have been working on this for over a year but the deal was only completed at the end of April.”

The toilets were closed by the district council in April, 2019, and later taken on by the town council while negotiations went on to buy the freehold of the building, which is in a car park now owned by the new Somerset Council.

Cllr Venner said: “The situation was complicated but we could not start work on the project until the building was legally ours. As a result, the starting date has come at the wrong time.

“In a perfect world we would have done the work in the autumn or winter after the tourist season had ended, but unfortunately, due circumstances, this was not possible.”

Firms tendering for the project were told: “The toilet block requires complete refurbishment including repairs and alterations to the roof and a complete refit and alterations to the interior, including electrical and plumbing.”

The contract was eventually awarded to Ware Construction, based in Skilgate.

This week, protestors complained that alternative facilities should have been in place before the toilets were closed.

On social media, Minehead resident Marie Reynolds said: “What other major seaside town has no toilets in its major tourist area as the summer season gets underway?

“We are told that there will be facilities in place for the weekend but as the temporary toilets have to be plumbed in, this target could surely be unrealistic.”

John Robertson said: “Temporary toilets should be in place before the existing facilities were closed.

“There have been months to prepare for this.

“A lot of people are very disappointed in the town council.”

Dominic Davidson asked: “What has happened to the temporary toilets included in the tender spec? Now, visitors are being advised to walk nearly a mile to alternative facilities, which is unacceptable, especially for those with disabilities.”

Mr Davidson sent a letter of complaint to all Minehead town councillors.

In his reply to Mr Davidson, also posted on the council’s website, Minehead Mayor Cllr Craig Palmer said: “In answer to the questions regarding the temporary facilities at Quay West, yes, there are temporary toilets due to arrive, but they have been delayed due to supply chain issues, but this is being dealt with.”

Town Cllr Mimi Palmer said: “It was hoped that the work would start earlier in the year but the cold wet spring, coupled with the extreme dampness of the building, meant that the work needed to wait until the weather and air temperatures improved.”

Ware Construction was asked by the Free Press whether temporary toilet facilities would be available by this weekend but nobody was available for comment.