This toilet was brought to you by ... New look unisex super-loos which clean themselves are set to be installed in Colchester town centre and beyond.

It is hoped the cost of installing the hi-tech toilets will be shared by major firms who choose to advertise on them.

Looking to the future - Terry Sutton hopes Colchester will soon have toilets to be proud of. Picture: NIGEL BROWN

Colchester Council is looking at the future of public conveniences in the town, as well as places including Tiptree, Dedham and Mersea.

A budget of nearly £600,000 is to be spent ridding the area of outdated loos, improving some of them and installing the new automatic loos that flush and clean themselves.

The unisex toilets will also be near vandal-proof, meaning they could be used at night. Planners hope this could spell the end of wall urination by revellers.

Terry Sutton, portfolio holder for street scene and licensing, said the trendy toilets had proved a success in London and he hoped Colchester would soon have them.

He said: "We are looking at various locations and not just in Colchester town centre. One place we are considering is the coach park in Dedham which currently has no conveniences. Because they flush and clean themselves, it would mean we could lessen the burden of having to go out to Dedham to clean them as often.

"What we are looking at is trying to reduce some of the costs and spending more on what actually needs to be there.

"It is a criticism that has been made against the council and we are looking to do something about it."

In deciding where the improved toilets and automatic conveniences might be sited, Mr Sutton said there would need to be a balance between the needs of the people and the best spots for advertisers.

Published Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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