Witham shoppers could soon be lining up to buy food from the site of a former hi-tech town centre toilet.
Plans are afoot for the automated toilets in Witham's Grove Centre, which were closed a year ago, to be removed and the building converted into a sandwich bar.
The two unisex lavatories, one of which has facilities for disabled users, were hailed as state-of-the-art and installed when the centre opened in 1988.
It cost 10p a time to use the £100,000 stainless steel toilets - nicknamed Tardises - but they were never popular.
Users would rather cross their legs than risk being sealed into the small cabinets by the electronically operated doors.
They fell further out of favour when the doors sometimes refused to close.
They were shut in January 2003 because it would have cost more than they are worth to repair them.
Now the 18 square metre space left when they and an adjoining storage space are removed will be turned into a sandwich bar selling pre-packed sandwiches and hot and cold drinks if planning permission is granted.
Wendy Harlow, manager of the Grove Centre said: "The toilets have been closed since January 2003 due to a fault on the doors and are considered beyond economic repair. This, coupled with the fact that people can now use the new council lavatories in the Lockram Lane car park, has prompted us to look at an alternative use for the building."
Published Thursday January 22, 2004
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