Public Conveniences
Lower High Street

Malvern Gazette 16th Februay 2007

Toilets row - new weapon By Tarik Al Rasheed A NEW weapon has been uncovered in the fight to preserve Upton's Lower High Street public toilets. Malvern Hills District Council closed the toilets last spring to cut costs and has now announced they will be sold. However, a covenant has emerged made between MHDC's forerunner, the Rural District Council, and Flowers Brewery, which used to own the King's Head pub and sold the toilets to the council in 1933. advertisement King's Head landlord Graham Bunn said the covenant, now between MHDC and Enterprise Inns, was still binding. "It states the building has to be kept as toilets for the people of Upton, and if they are sold then the purchaser would have to abide by those terms," he said. "Enterprise Inns are aware of this and want the building to remain as toilets - they will oppose any change of use. "The toilets were a very well used facility. We see people coming into the pub all the time to use the toilets where they used to use the public ones." Nigel Snape, MHDC head of legal services, said: "We are aware of it and consent would be required for the building to be used as anything else. We are keeping the brewery informed, and they know that we are looking to put the building up for sale." The Conservatives have pledged to re-open the toilets if they win control of the council at the forthcoming elections. Leader Serena Croad said: "Clearly if the Lib Dems get in again then they will be sold, but if we get into power then it will be a different matter."