FORTY years after their introduction to Britain the first unisex public toilets in Fenland are to be built in March.

The new set of five self contained ‘pods’ will replace the existing male and female toilets in Broad Street.

Fenland Council says it wants to alter and extend the existing block of toilets as part of a wider project to “rationalise” public convenience in Fenland towns. Town councillors have been warned the likely charge of using the new toilet ‘pods’ will be 20p. Anyone unhappy with the new arrangements will still be able to pop in for free to the council’s one stop shop nearby.

The council has applied for permission to convert the existing 19th century toilets which they claim satisfy “users basic needs but are now not best suited for the changing needs of the 21st century. They are becoming very tired.”

The council also claims the toilets are not family friendly (cubicle sizes are not large enough for parents with children) and there are no baby changing facilities.

The council believes more modern ‘pod’ style cubicles will be more secure, less prone to vandalism and have CCTV covering the external doors which should reduce anti social behaviour.

Combined toilet and washing facilities will be in each cubicle, and operating hours will be timed to lock automatically and thus having to send someone to lock them in the evening.

One of the five new ‘pods’ will be disabled friendly but the council says changes to the building’s appearance will be minimal although style and colour is yet to be agreed.