A disused toilet block at the entrance to a car park in Cowes could be transformed into a café, to the benefit of Northwood House.
Northwood House Charitable Trust Ltd has applied for planning permission from the Isle of Wight Council to convert a redundant toilet block off Park Road into a café, with a view to it becoming a new income source for the nearby house.
In 2010, the local authority completely withdrew from the grand house and park, including the car park and the toilet block, which was passed into the hands of what is now the Northwood House Charitable Trust Ltd. However, the Trust was forced to permanently close the toilets due to anti-social behaviour and as such they have remained derelict for an extended period of time.
Now, under new plans lodged, a café could soon be serving up coffee and cake.
It is proposed that the toilet block building itself be retained but completely renovated to become a modest eatery, complete with a kitchen and toilet. New doors and glazing to the front would be installed, leading out to additional outdoor seating.
The applicants say that the loss of the redundant toilet block and the re-use into a commercial building is a positive contribution to the Island, as well as the conservation area. They say the proposal would discourage antisocial behaviour and would improve the area with renewed enthusiasm from a new use which would ensure it is repaired and maintained.
Alleviating fears of the loss of public convenience, the Trust has said that the nearby toilets within the park are more conveniently located and that there are already 5 Public Conveniences elsewhere in Cowes.
Yet another dumb idea. How about turning them into much needed toilets???
The island is full of elderly persons,
therefore many more persons need to use
toilets, but the Brainy NOT Council keep
closing toilets down / selling them off
or charging persons 50p to use toilets.
It’s no wonder people keep p*ssing up
walls or tree trunks.
We pay extortionate Council tax on the island,
therefore such services of toilet blocks etc
should be made available.
Would’nt of been disused if it was kept open and cleaned..this wont happen either..
Just where you need a toilet block. Instead you get crap pie.
Should add to the flavour, let’s face it
how many people wash their hands after going to the
toilet (dirty filthy B’stards)
The Pandemic has not made people any cleaner.
it’s disgusting that the toilets were closed. If your business is a car park there should be a customer toilet for people after a car journey. Vandalism does happen but that is just an excuse to close facility to save money. I doubt if it was that catastrophic either. There is tax and vat back on all repair which will upgrade the damage area at the same time.now you want to add insult to injury by selling refreshments where there no toilet. Or will there be one car park customers can use.
i pushed my mother in law to the toilet in Northwood in her wheelchair. Luckily she can walk a little to use the facility. It’s almost impossible to push her off on the cheap gravel path repairs the toilet in the park It hundreds of m from the car park, it’s too far.