Homeless plan for former public loos in middle of Hereford

Herefordshire Council, which owns the loo, has made a planning application (number 240425) to itself to confirm it can go ahead with the plan for the facility at the southern end of Union Street, beside St Peter’s Church.

This shows the pod would contain a bed, shower and toilet, “to provide accommodation for a single temporary homeless person”.

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Temporary homeless pods have already been deployed this winter at the Symonds Street car park in the city, and briefly at the county bus station.

The county council passed responsibility for the Union Street toilets, along with those in nearby East Street, to the city council ten years ago.

But they were plagued by anti-social behaviour including drug use, vandalism and attempts to prise open the coin-operated locks.

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“Despite the toilets having to be closed for some time, only one complaint was received about it and on that basis, it was concluded that the toilets are not missed,” Herefordshire Council’s application says.

The city’s community toilet scheme “now gives the public good access” to toilets in local food and drink outlets, it explains, which alongside the free public toilets in supermarkets has left the public toilets “more trouble and expense than they are worth”.

Comments on the planning application can be made until April 8.