The Cresswell Toilets Debate continues….
The rationale behind the upgrading of the Cresswell Toilets adjacent to the Cresswell Arms in Newbiggin by the Sea.
After Newbiggin by the Sea Town Council was formed in 2009 The Council conducted a comprehensive survey to identify the priorities of the residents. The residents made quality toilets facilities, car parking and events, their top priorities. The priorities of the residents were appropriate and showed that they had a clear ambition to make Newbiggin by the Sea a more attractive community and a desirable destination for visitors.
As the County Council have stressed the provision of toilet facilities and adequate car parking is paramount for economic development and greater prosperity.
A decade ago, Newbiggin by the Sea was bye passed. On a warm sunny day in summer hundreds, if not thousands, of motorists ignored Newbiggin on their way to Amble, Craster, Beadnell, Newton, Boulmer, Seahouses and Bamburgh. These coastal towns have a car park for their visitors, and all have public toilets adjacent to their car park.
As the reputation of Newbiggin by the Sea improved so did the number of events and visitors and it became clear that toilets adjacent to the car park would improve the reputation of the Town for visitors. Good facilities would also attract coach trips to support trade and bring money into the town.
In 2018 Newbiggin by the Sea was included as a destination for tourists.
EXAMPLE: If we can attract an average of seven coaches per week over a year and each coach brings 30 visitors and each visitor spends £10.00 in the Town, a contribution of over £100,000.00 a year would be added to the economy. People getting off a coach usually look for toilet facilities on arrival; ask the coach operators. Coaches usually terminate their journey at the Church Point Car Park.
The growing popularity of Newbiggin by the Sea is evidenced by the success of the Park Run that takes place every Saturday morning in Covid free times. On New Year’s Day (2020) there were 476 participants. Shortly afterwards the New Year’s Dip attracted scores of hardy dippers and hundreds of onlookers. Over the year events sponsored by our Traders attract more and more visitors.
More and more people are recognising the attractiveness of our community and we have a responsibility to ensure that we are prosperous in the 21st Century by providing 21st Century facilities.
The proposed Cresswell Toilet facilities to support the Church Point Car Park offer 21st Century cubicles. We cannot be seen to be callously indifferent to our visitors whatever their status or disability and so the proposals will comply with the latest criteria as set out in the Disability Discrimination act.
The proposed Cresswell Toilets are on the Coastal Path, they would serve the Parkrun, coach trips and make Newbiggin by the Sea more attractive for ‘Triathlon’ events. Resident families and day-tripping families would be catered for adding to the prosperity of our community.
This proposed Cresswell Toilets facility will cost £71,000.00 plus contingencies of £5K for increases in the cost of the material. The County Council will contribute £20,000.00, a further £50,000.00 will be paid from wind farm grant.
Without appropriate infrastructure, our community will not prosper. This proposal complies with the wishes of the residents as identified by the survey.
Note: When we spend the £50,000.00 on the toilet block we can then access a further £30,000.00 for other projects. If we do not spend it, we can lose it completely.
Alan Thompson
Chairman/Mayor
January 2021.
Also view:
The toilet upgrade on Holy Island is costing circa £184,000
The Seahouses toilet upgrade cost is circa £131,000
