Plans to renovate the Victoria Embankment have been submitted following the controversial closure of its toilets. It marks the start of the Memorial Gardens restoration project which is due to be completed next year, which would revamp the currently derelict and unused existing undercroft.
The proposed works would create a tea point and storeroom for volunteers, giving them somewhere to shelter. It would also replace the recently closed toilets, which were costing Nottingham City Council around £32,000 per year.
Councillor Kevin Clarke, leader of the Nottingham Independents opposition group, said this would leave visitors “cross-legged” over the summer. But Councillor David Mellen, leader of the Labour council explained the toilets were being shut as part of plans to close a £28m funding gap this year and would be replaced.
As a historic, Grade II listed park, The Victoria Embankment has existed in some form for more than 100 years. While The Meadows Recreation area of the Embankment is a large turfed open space marked out for various sports, the Memorial Gardens a more enclosed landscaped garden.
The female toilets to the northern end of the undercroft will be cleared of cubicles and turned into a storage area and meeting space. The male toilets to the southern end of the undercroft will also be cleared of the existing cubicles and replaced by an enlarged Accessible toilet and two enlarged unisex cubicles.
The council has outlined the external works to the building will be "minimal". According to planning documents, the project aims to largely keep the external appearance unchanged.
In a planning document, Nottingham City Council, said: "The primary aim of the proposals, is to bring a previously derelict and neglected building back into use by giving it a use and purpose. It is hoped that these proposals will act as a base for volunteers and give them an area to shelter in bad weather, and plan for a day’s work.
"The proposal also provides a much needed Accessible WC for the park. Although the WCs are intended for use when volunteers are on site and will not be accessible for the general public, the AWC should be available for those carrying a radar key and therefore available for when disabled users may need them.
"It is hoped that the proposals outlined in this document bring value to the Victoria embankment undercroft with minimal negative impact on the building and bringing the structure back into use again." The planning application is currently pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.
