Plans submitted to demolish vandalism-hit toilet block and build new accessible and family-friendly facility in popular Northampton park
Plans have been submitted to demolish a vandalism-hit toilet block and build a new accessible and family-friendly facility in a popular Northampton park.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has submitted the plans to knock down the existing toilet block on the eastern side of Abington Park, which has been closed for some time due to repeated vandalism and anti-social behaviour, and has been deemed unsafe and unsuitable for refurbishment.
The toilet block would instead be replaced with a new facility located near the playground and main pedestrian routes. Plans show the facility would include seven self-contained toilet cubicles, with a mix of single-sex and unisex facilities, a wheelchair-accessible toilet with RADAR key access and a dedicated family toilet with baby-changing facilities. A drinking fountain and water bottle filling station are also included in the plans.
The new toilet block would benefit from CCTV coverage, security-rated doors, anti-climb measures and improved visibility from surrounding paths to help deter vandalism and misuse, according to the council.
The design and access statement says the aim of the plans is to “ensure accessible, safe, and functional sanitary facilities suitable for the high volume of park visitors, particularly families and children using the nearby playground”. It is also hoped the facility will “promote inclusivity and improve overall park usability”.
Councillor Nigel Stansfield, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste at WNC, said: “Abington Park is one of Northampton’s most well-used and much-loved green spaces, and it’s important that the facilities available meet the needs of everyone who visits.
“These proposals would deliver brand new accessible toilets in a safer and more visible location, helping to make the park more welcoming for families, disabled visitors and the wider community. We also designed the facilities to complement the park’s heritage and maintain its historic aesthetic.”
Anna McTaggart, partner at GSS Architecture – the firm behind the design plans, added: “We set out to create facilities that improve the visitor experience at Abington Park and respect the park’s heritage and landscape. Working with West Northamptonshire Council, we have developed a design that will bring high-quality, modern, robust amenities into the heart of the park, ensuring that visitors can continue to enjoy the park and have access to suitable facilities”
WNC also adds that the new facility will be “sensitively designed to respect the historic character of Abington Park”, using locally sourced stone and a curved slate roof inspired by Victorian park architecture.
The plans include sustainability measures, such as solar photovoltaic slates, rainwater harvesting for park irrigation, permeable paving and wildflower planting to support biodiversity.
The Abington Park Management Committee and Northamptonshire Police support the relocation of the toilets to a more suitable and visible area of the park, according to planning documents.
A target decision date has been set for February 11. Ahead of this, residents are invited to learn more at a drop-in event at Abington Park Museum on Wednesday February 4, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
Subject to approval, the council says construction should begin this summer.