AFTER being approached by three different parties keen to transform some run-down toilets in a Cockermouth park, the town council has been told that they are not allowed to lease the building.

A bike hub, cafe and ice cream parlour have all been proposed for the stone building in the town’s Memorial Garden.

At a meeting in the summer, town council members agreed they needed to seek legal advice and draw up a list of stipulations before inviting the three parties to do presentations.

It was agreed that the building would be leased, rather than sold, and that one of the requirements would be that the toilets had to have disabled access and be open to the public.

The park and building are owned by the town council. Following repeated vandalism attacks, the toilets are only open when events are being held in the gardens.

The council has since issued a statement saying the building cannot be leased.

“Cockermouth Town Council had hoped to lease the toilet block in the Memorial Gardens to a third party. However, our solicitor has confirmed that we can only use the gardens for the purpose it was acquired, ie recreation, and that we would be acting unlawfully if we granted a lease which might restrict access to the general public for recreation,” said the statement.

Mayor Alan Smith said: “The toilets in the Memorial Gardens are in a poor state of repair and require significant investment. Cockermouth Town Council had hoped to lease them to a third party to redevelop but have been advised that we are unable to do so.”

He said a site visit had been carried out and the issue would be discussed at the next meeting.

“We see there’s a need for toilet provision in Memorial Gardens. What’s there is not up to 21st century standards and needs refurbishing,” said Coun Smith.

“We’d thought if we could lease the building out and someone could do it up that would be the easiest way.”

The first idea to be pitched to the town council came in July 2019 from Danny Gee, deputy headteacher at Beaconhill Community School in Aspatria.

He shared his vision for a venue in the town where cyclists could meet, store their bikes, have access to tools, showers and information about everything that was on offer.

The second proposition came from James Routledge, a project manager with 30 years experience in the construction and civil engineering trade, who was interested in transforming the building into a cafe and takeaway.

A third vision - for an icecream parlour - was suggested to the council earlier this year.