Call to re-open underground King Billy toilets for City of Culture 2017 please log in to view this image THEY have been closed for the best part of two decades. But now councillors are calling for the underground Victorian toilets next to Hull's famous King Billy statue to be reopened for the UK City of Culture celebrations. They claim more public loos are needed to cope with the expected influx of visitors to the city during 2017. At the moment there are only three public conveniences in the whole of the city centre – in Queen Victoria Square, Albion Street and Nelson Street. The King Billy toilets were closed in the mid-1990s as a cost-cutting measure. At the time, councillors claimed new-look automatic public toilets provided better value for money. However, they have also been subsequently removed. Speaking at a scrutiny meeting, Councillor John Hewitt said: "If we are going to be welcoming a massive influx of visitors to Hull in 2017 we have got to make there are plenty of places for them to spend a penny. "When the automatic toilets were removed by the previous administration we were told that arrangements would be made with pubs and cafés to make their toilets available to the public but that has not happened. "Something better has to be in place for 2017 and, while I don't mind the idea of temporary toilets, I think we should be looking at something more long-term." Cllr Hewitt said a rethink was needed over the grade two-listed King Billy toilets as they had the potential to become a tourist attraction in their own right thanks to their detailed tile work and ornate glass cisterns. "I know someone who came from down south specifically to see the King Billy toilets and he was devastated to find they were closed," he said. Cllr Hewitt claimed introducing a small admission charge would help pay running costs. Councillor Dave Craker said: "The King Billy toilets should be reopened and manned again. "It is going to be right next to one of the focal points of 2017 with all the activities going on in Humber Street." Councillors were told judges in the Purple Flag accreditation scheme had expressed concern over the lack of formal agreement in Hull between city pub and cafe owners to allow non-customers to use their toilet facilities. Doug Sharp, the council's assistant head of street scene services, said talks were continuing with businesses to secure such an agreement. He said officials would look again at pros and cons of reopening the King Billy toilets but she said officials would look again at pros and cons of reopening the King Billy toilets but stressed funding remained a problem. http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/open...tory-26915443-detail/story.html#ixzz3g8mv4Z35 They should definitely do this, it's such a waste not using them.
"I know someone who came from down south specifically to see the King Billy toilets and he was devastated to find they were closed," Must have been desperate for a crap.
