WORK to overhaul a toilet block in Christchurch town centre will finally get under way next week with a project budget of £175,000.

The Christchurch Borough Council scheme, which will be delivered by a Yorkshire-based firm, starts on Monday with a scheduled completion of March 31.

Initially, the project was due to start last summer, however tenders came back over an initial smaller budget.

Councillors reconsidered the funding for the work and retendered the scheme in the latter months of 2018.

The initial funding allocation for the scheme was £125,000, however a budget monitoring report to the council’s resources committee in December stated it would now cost £175,000.

Town centre ward councillor Peter Hall said: “I am delighted it has been sorted and work is going to start.

“It has cost more than we anticipated but that is the price developers are charging these days and this is important work.”

The project will be carried out by Hughie Construction, which is based in Barnsley, after their successful tender submission.

Work on the site will involve completely removing the entire existing facility and installing new modern individually accessed toilets, a disabled toilet and family facilities.

During the project, temporary toilets, including disabled and family facilities, will be provided at the rear of the Regent Centre in Wick Lane car park.

Additional disabled and family facilities are also available in Bridge Street outside the Civic Offices in Christchurch.

Cllr Hall added: “We will the get the project completed before Christchurch Borough Council is dissolved and the work is a good thing because people use the facilities a lot and it will be an improvement.

“Town centre schemes like this are worthwhile because they provide a better experience for visitors and in a lot of places toilets are being closed.

“We are a tourist area and it is vital the town centre meets their needs.

“Doing the work now should ensure the new facilities are open for the summer when the town is busiest.”