Author: Sal
New Wight Loos The Greenest In The Nation
Friday, 24th August, 2007 at 4:10 pm, Isle of Wight
You might’ve heard about the revamp happening to public loos around the Island and maybe you even went down to the Winter Gardens to see the proposed plans for the esplanade loos last month.
Well, news arrives today that these new ’super loos’ are going to have to accolade of being the greenest in the UK. Some might argue that many already are, but that would be from the mould rather than their environmentally friendly features.
So just how is this title going to be achieved? Well, according to the Council, the loos, which are going to cost £1million, will feature …
A wind turbine to generate electricity.
A roof made up of drought-resistant plants.
Roof made of photo-voltaic cells that will use the Island’s famous sunshine to create electricity.
A mini-hydro-electric generator.
Using harvested rainwater to flush and clean the toilets.
Energy efficient light fittings.
Low maintenance materials.
Water saving flush devices.
All of the loos have been designed by Island architects Biggs Talbot, with artistic input from mainland artist Rob Turner and Sarah Daniels.
Here’s what the council has in store for Ventnor:
The toilets have been designed to follow the historic arches that are a feature of the Cascade. The toilets will feature recycled ’stained glass’ glass to provide vibrant lighting inside. It is intended to use the natural Cascade water flow to power a mini hydro-electric power.
The toilets will also incorporate rainwater reservoirs to collect water to be used in flushing the toilets. The ‘living’ roof will also be covered in plants again blending in with the popular surrounding of the Cascade. Ventnor Botanic Garden curator Simon Goodenough will lead the planting project.
I was going to find an appropriate image to use of green toilets, but thought this one from the Netherlands was hilarious. It isn’t a rendition of what the new Island loos are going to be.
Community, From the Council, Green Issues, Ventnor
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August 25th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
The Winter Gardens? Maybe the plans should include the WG. If only the mens toilets in there were even marginally acceptable. I don’t know about the ladies, but the mens are disgusting. Surely they should be brought up to a standard acceptable to the 21st century and be capable of admitting more than one person.
August 26th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Too true about the Winter Gardens toilets. We went for a drink in the WG a couple of months ago, but after visiting the loo decided we would not be drinking there in the future.
August 26th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Sal,
How about running a competition to find the most gor-blimey bogs on the Island? To prod the Council to move their bog improvement plan along a bit faster. I nominate the Moa Place, Freshwater as being most dire.
I’m so glad that the Council are doing something at long last about this problem : With tourism the main industry and with the punters largely children and pensioners, you would think A1 facilities would have been provided yonks ago. What a bad imoression the holidaymakers must take back with them.
Ever been to Austria? From airport to the most remote mountain hutte, you couldn’t wish for cleaner loos.
Did a double take at your Dutch pic. Are those bins wash basins for the gals or urinals for the gents?
September 21st, 2007 at 1:17 pm
[...] have mentioned previously on VB, the overhaul planned for Ventnor esplanade toilets and have this week been contacted by Rob Turner, the artist [...]