The long-awaited reopening of permanent public toilets at La Pulente may be heading down the pan, with planning officers stating that they are “potentially unlikely” to happen because of drainage and insurance problems.
The surprise admission came in a report recommending that the third attempt to turn part of the controversial former Nude Dunes restaurant into holiday accommodation is rejected when it goes before the Planning Committee next week.
Public toilets have become a long-running subplot in the saga surrounding the prominent beachfront building, which itself started life as a public toilet block before being sold by the States for around £100,000 in 2014.
Under the original planning permission for its conversion into a café, the new toilet facilities were required to remain accessible to the public every day between 9am and 9pm during British Summer Time and 9am and 5pm during GMT, and to be maintained “in perpetuity” by the café operator.
However, the permanent facilities have remained closed.
Last year, previous Infrastructure Minister Constable Andy Jehan said the duty to facilitate public access was not being fulfilled, but said that discussions were ongoing and that the government would take necessary action to get the toilets open, ideally by the summer.
By October, however, Islanders were still relying on a portable toilet at the site. The Infrastructure Minister said the owner was trying to resolve public-liability insurance requirements as well as plumbing and electrical modifications needed before the permanent facilities could open.
“Potentially unlikely”
The latest planning application again proposes two public toilets alongside a café and two-bedroom self-catering unit.
The reopening of the facilities is also cited by the applicant as one of the community benefits of allowing the development.
But, in a recently published report giving their assessment of the plans, planning officers have cast doubt on whether that benefit would materialise.
“Whilst the application mentions the public toilets re-opening as part of the proposals, we are aware from discussions with the applicant during the lifetime of the application that this is potentially unlikely to come to fruition due to complications with the drainage system and public liability insurance issues,” the report stated.
The officers also conclude that converting a substantial part of the building into a tourism let would remove it from wider public enjoyment and say it is “difficult to see what community benefit will be delivered”.
Third time unlucky?
The revelation forms part of a wider assessment recommending that the latest Nude Dunes plans are refused.
The application would turn the former indoor restaurant area into a two-bedroom holiday let while retaining a smaller café operation, with all café seating outdoors.
Planning officers say the proposal still fails key Island Plan tests, despite changes made following two previous refusals. They also note that no marketing information has been submitted with the latest application to demonstrate there is no demand for the building to continue in its existing daytime and evening economy use.
The application has attracted 68 representations – seven in support and 61 objections – with lack of access to the public toilets among the concerns raised.
The Planning Committee is due to consider the application at a meeting next Thursday.
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