Villagers in Belmont get approval to replace loos

9:56pm Wednesday 12th March 2008

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VILLAGERS in Belmont are relieved the final go-ahead has been given to replace public toilets burned down three years ago.

Residents have been fighting a battle with Blackburn with Darwen Council over the replacement of the timber built toilet block, with the council initially deciding against a replacement at The Moss playing fields due to lack of cash.

But local people were incensed as the toilets were well used by Brownies, schools and a football team as well as fell runners and tourists visiting the beauty spot.

People living nearby were fed up with people, desperate to spend a penny, knocking on their doors asking to use the bathroom.

But now, the authority has signed a new deal handing over responsibility for the toilets and their maintenance to North Turton Parish Council,.

Insurance money and grants totalling £30,000 are being used to fund the creation of a stone-built toilet block.

Work on the structure should begin later this month.

The move has delighted North Turton with Tockholes district councillor Jean Rigby, who has been campaigning for the reinstatement of the toilets.

"We also have the possibility in future of bolting changing facilities onto the block," she said.

Once the toilets are built, someone will be appointed to clean and maintain them and lock them up at night.

In the meantime local children will celebrate the official opening of a new play area at The Moss, off Ryecroft Lane, tonight. (March 13) A £50,000 lottery grant from Play England has enabled children at Belmont Primary School to decide what equipment they wanted to play on.

The skateboard area of the park has also been extended and the cutting of the ribbon to open the play area will be done by school secretary Edna Aspinall, who retires this week and some of the children.

Cllr Rigby says she has bigger plans for The Moss if the peaty land can be drained, including more space for footballers.

"There is so much potential there," she said.