RESIDENTS aren’t ready to give up on the redundant toilet block in South Street, which looks set to be demolished at a cost of £6,500 and returned back to grassland for public use.

A question was put forward at a recent town council meeting by Farnham resident David Beaman, redirecting members back to the demolishment of the toilet block, which was agreed in the Waverley chambers last month.

Mr Beaman informed members that over the years there have been a number of different proposals for using this building but to date no actual proposal has actually gone beyond the idea stage.

He said the leader of Waverley Borough Council, (WBC) Robert Knowles, had stated that discussions have been held between WBC and Farnham Town Council (FTC) over the possible transfer of ownership to FTC but that no formal proposal had been received from FTC.

Mr Beaman added: “Councillor Fraser made a plea for the retention of the buildings which appeared to imply that there was now a realistic chance that this building could be used for other purposes.

“Subsequent to the meeting I understand there are two expressions of interest in the building, one as a centre related to the North Downs Way, one as a café.”

Town Clerk Iain Lynch confirmed conversations between officers at WBC and himself, over the possible transfer of ownerships and at one stage there was a proposal that the building be transferred to the town council. “FTC was awaiting a response from WBC on whether or not that transfer will take place. The executive director at Waverley has made it quite clear that there was no possibility of transferring the building and that the building will be demolished.”

In emails to councillors Waverley’s executive director, Paul Wenham, confirmed the building was no longer fit to be used as public toilets, and that Waverley didn’t believe there is another sustainable long-term use for the building due to the location. It will therefore be demolished and be returned back to park land, for public use.

He noted a discussion in 2013 and 2014 between council members about the toilets being transferred to FTC, so it could potentially be made into a cafe and visitor centre at the start of the North Downs Way. However it was later considered inappropriate.

Mr Wenham highlighted within the emails, that a full review of the toilets and proposed cafe was carried out in July 2014 by the council’s Estates and Leisure/Countryside teams, which believed the cost of conversion to a cafe was prohibitive and that it was in a poor location, as it is on the opposite side of South Street from the main Gostrey Meadow recreation area. A health and safety issue arose also, that crossing from Gostrey Meadow over to the cafe may be considered dangerous, especially for young children.

A cafe provision on the bowling green on Gostrey Meadow, following the ending of the lease, was also considered. Mr Wenham stated “in the light of these considerations it was therefore decided to recommend demolition of the toilets and to plan to build a new facility at Gostrey Meadow.

“As part of the wider park strategy. It was agreed to transfer a small area of land adjacent to the existing toilets to FTC so that additional disabled facilities could be added to these toilets”.