THE future of former public toilets closed down four years ago will be determined.

Pendle Council's Colne and district committee meets on Thursday to discuss the future of the former public toilets at the town's bus station, with four proposed options on the table.

The toilets closed in 2014 after concerns they were at risk of collapsing.

Committee members will be given the option of transferring the building to Colne Town Council in its current condition for use or development.

They will also consider demolishing the building and creating a green space or paved area in its place.

Members could decide to shore up the building internally to prevent the risk of collapse and leave it standing but closed.

Or the committee could decide to instruct Liberata to offer it for sale in current condition on the open market.

A deal had been agreed by members in 2014 to transfer the toilets to PEARL 2, who at the time were happy to acquire the building at a peppercorn cost and demolish the block before redeveloping the site.

But the transfer did not go ahead and the block's future has been in limbo since.

In a report to go before the committee, Tony Brown, from the council's property management arm Liberata, said knocking down the block and repairing the rear retaining wall would cost about £40,000.

And building on the cleared site was estimated to cost about £60,000.

Mr Brown added it was felt there would be little appetite for a shop in place of the toilet block because of location, size and limited passing trade.

He said: "If the site was offered to the open market and a buyer was found then in its current condition it is unlikely to result in a capital receipt due to the estimated demolition and rebuilding costs.

"Although the load on the current building and retaining walls has been reduced, there is still as risk of collapse and further deterioration in the building fabric with the potential risk of injury or loss to members of the public and businesses located above and adjacent to the site.

"If the building is retained and not demolished or repaired then the council should at least consider shoring the retaining wall with steelwork and pinning to prevent any ongoing movement with an estimated cost between £5,000 and £10,000.

"This option may require further works in the future at cost to the council."