A charge will be introduced to public toilets after a three month closure for refurbishments.

Work will begin to improve the toilet facilities in Cove Street in Weymouth, on Monday, September 30.

It is anticipated by Weymouth Town Council that the works will last for three months.

The town council says starting work in September will keep disruption to a minimum while improvements are carried out.

Once improvements are complete, a charge of 50p will be introduced to use the new toilets and this income will be used for their ongoing cleaning and maintenance costs, the town council says.

An electronic payment system will be installed, and visitors will then be able to use a bank card or smartphone to make the payment.

Anyone using a radar key will still have access to the disabled toilet once refurbishment is complete. 

Improvements will include moving the disabled toilet door to make it more accessible.

New urinals and toilets that will be installed will be more efficient in the use of water after being fed from the mains supply.

Sensor flushes and sensor taps will also be put in and LED lighting will be installed to make the facilities a lot lighter than the current block, as well as being more energy efficient. A better ventilation system will also be installed.  

During the period that the Cove Street toilets will close, the nearest available public toilets will be at the Nothe Gardens on Maiden Street.

Work will be carried out by a local building company which will fence off the facilities during the refit.

Cllr Matt Bell, chairman of the town council's Environment and Services Committee, said: “While the toilets at Cove Street are temporarily closed for refurbishment from September 30, I would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause in the short term.

"However, once completed the new facilities in this busy part of the town will be much improved.  

“The refurbishment was approved by the Environment and Services Committee and Full Council earlier in the year, where it was agreed a charge would be introduced to use these facilities.

"The money generated will be put back into the ongoing maintenance and cleaning costs.” 

To find the location of public toilets Weymouth Town Council is responsible for maintaining, visit the website.