Betws-y-Coed's ‘spaceship’ toilet designs flushed away by planners

Oct 8 2009 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

CONTROVERSIAL plans for modern public loos at Betws-y-Coed were turned down by Snowdonia National Park planners yesterday.

The toilet plans, which boasted a sycamore-shaped roof made of zinc, would have been part of a new tourist information centre at the Conwy Valley village.

Conwy County Council wanted to build the complex on the village green at Cae Llan.

Yesterday, Snowdonia planners refused the designs following a site visit on the grounds that it did not accord with Eryri local plan policies, and the choice of design and materials would not accord with the predominant character of the conservation area.

Campaigner Gladys Harrison, who handed in a 75-signature petition and more than 20 letters of objection prior to the site visit, said the decision was common sense.

“I am delighted, like many other people in Betws-y-Coed will be, with the decision. Common sense has prevailed at last,” she said.

“I attended the hearing and it was very short and to the point. The officers refused the application on the grounds the toilets are part of a much larger public community area, and they were of the opinion the design and materials proposed were not in keeping with the conservation area, a point residents have been making for a long time.

“They also said the toilets could be better located or the existing facility could be sympathetically extended and upgraded, which again I wholeheartedly agree with.”

Conwy’s environment portfolio holder Mike Priestley, who championed the design, was disappointed with the decision.

“I think we need time to consider the decision and the reasons behind it,” he told the Weekly News.

“I am disappointed and surprised at the decision because I truly believe it is a quality facility and it was justly deserved for the visitors and residents of Betws-y-Coed.”

Many objectors agree that new conveniences are needed to replace existing toilets, and the tourist information centre in the Old Stable nearby.

But they would prefer a site on the existing car or coach parks in the village.

They were adamant the design, with oak and glass walls, was unsuitably futuristic and shouldn’t be built in a conservation area.

Mrs Harrison added: “We all agree the existing toilet facility needs upgrading but we need to look to the future and what this kind of modern building would look like in 20 years time.

“I do hope this decision will not hamper an future upgrade of the facility.”