A village in Bracknell Forest will be getting its first ever public toilet amid reports children and others having little choice but to relieve themselves in bushes and at a nearby school.

Winkfield Row will be getting the new toilet, which will be installed at the George V Playing Field in the village.

The toilet will come with two cubicles suitable for disabled people, and will be built in brick with timber-like cladding.

The plan for the toilet was submitted by Winkfield Parish Council, with local councillors expressing concern over people relieving themselves in the surrounding area.

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Councillor Moira Gaw (Conservative, Winkfield & Cranbourne) said: “With no toilet facility there has been an increased spate in urination in the bushes and on the verges, demonstrating an urgent need for this facility.

“I’d really ask members to support the residents of Winkfield, Winkfield Parish Council and the ward councillors, who all agree this application represents a facility of meritable and sensitive design, fulfilling an important need within the community.”

Cllr Tony Virgo added: “A lot of people now use it, it’s a public field, it’s families that use it, and they need to use the facility.

“And what was happening before was that people were going to the school, St Mary’s, and obviously that’s not acceptable.

“All in all, with the cladding, I think this is a good deal.”

Slough Observer: The design for the new toilet in Winkfield Row. Credit: Cleveland Sitesafe LtdThe design for the new toilet in Winkfield Row. Credit: Cleveland Sitesafe Ltd

People in Winkfield Row have so far waited over two years for a toilet in the field.

The public toilet was originally meant to be located immediately west of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, with a plan for a toilet in this location being approved in March 2020.

But, in additional comments to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, cllr Virgo said plans changed due to concerns about the proximity of the toilet to the school, and the original exterior design being out of keeping with the character of the area.

Once built, the new toilet will be located next to the entrance of the playing field.

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Building consent was granted at Bracknell Forest Council’s advisory planning committee meeting on Thursday, January 20.

The plan, reference (21/00793/FUL) was approved with 16 councillors voting for it, and cllr Dorothy Hayes MBE (Conservative, Ascot) abstained as her granddaughter attends St Mary’s CofE School. 

It is understood that the toilet will be closed during the nighttime.