Stalham peeved over plans to make it only town without a loo

For a community that has already been grumbling that they are overlooked by their local council, it seems to be the ultimate insult.

Stalham looks set to earn the unwelcome distinction of becoming the only town in the area without a public toilet after North Norfolk District Council announced plans to close its last convenience.

Under the proposals, which were unveiled earlier this week, the block, just off the High Street, will be permanently shut as the authority looks to save £46,000 a year by closing or partially closing 14 of its 36 toilets.

For locals in Stalham, it is the final straw.

'NORTH WALSHAM HAS JUST GOT A FANCY NEW ONE!'

Kevin Bayes, mayor co-councillor of Stalham next to the toilet in question. (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)Kevin Bayes, Stalham's mayor, said: “We will be the only town in North Norfolk out of seven that have no public toilet.

“Compare it to North Walsham, who have recently had new gender neutral toilets with solar panels, despite having adequate toilet facilities beforehand.

“We have an ageing population in Stalham. People of a certain generation were taught that it's rude to go into a business just to use the toilet.

"The lack of a public toilet on the street will put pressure on residents and businesses alike."

Matthew Taylor, Stalham town councillor (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) Matthew Taylor, Stalham town councillor said: “We have thousands of people who come to Stalham in the summer for the street fairs and events. They need access to a public toilet."

Stalham's high street on a busy day in the summer (Image: Newsquest) NNDC insists it would like to replace the Stalham toilets with new ones, but has provided no details about when and where this would be, or why it would be cheaper to close the old block and open a new one.

Mr Taylor is sceptical.

“They budgeted £20,000 for new toilets but they say they can’t run these ones. You can't build a toilet facility for £20,000, he added.

BUSINESS CONCERNS

Businesses are also concerned about the impact of the closure, with many fearing they will suffer the consequences.

Vicky Cooke, landlady of the Swan on the High Street, said: “We spent a lot of time making toilets nice for our customers, but an extra influx means extra cleaning and monitoring, and wear and tear. 

The Swan Inn, Stalham (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) She questioned what would happen at times of day when businesses were not open.

“You cannot rely on businesses to do what the council should be doing.

“There are times of the day when there will be no alternatives for people, as businesses aren’t open.

Claire Trainer, of Café Charlotte (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest)

Claire Trainer, who runs Café Charlotte on Stalham high street added: “It will mean people will come in to use the toile.

"Obviously we’d rather people were coming in to spend money. 

"When you think about electricity and water rates, wear and tear over years, it all adds up.

"It’s also a basic human right to have access to a toilet.

WIDER GRIEVANCES

The toilet announcement has fed into a wider sense of grievance that Stalham is undervalued and underserved by NNDC.

Locals claim their community has been neglected over the years and is struggling with a declining high street and a rise in crime.

Resentment boiled over at an NNDC meeting earlier this year where the area's councillors claimed the community had been overlooked for investment.

They accused the authority of ignoring the town, instead pumping money into the more glamorous locations of Cromer, Holt and Sheringham.

Following the toilet news, Mr Bayes said: “They keep stripping us of our assets.

“I think they don’t value Stalham. They talk but there’s no action, no investment or support. 

“We just ask for a fair slice of the cake.

“Budgets are tight they’re trying to find money wherever they can. 

“They make decisions and they don’t talk to people or consult. 

“We want to discuss if there’s an option where we can take over the running of the facilities.

"We don’t want them to close the toilets without any concrete structure to replace them."

NNDC claims the closures are necessary to help it plug a growing deficit of £1.3m.

A final decision will be made at a later date.