CREATIVE minds have been given the chance to turn vacant toilet blocks into new business ventures.

Residents are being encouraged to suggest alternative uses for three public toilets in Dovercourt, Clacton and Holland-on-Sea.

Tendring Council, which owns the facilities, asked Boydens to market the three buildings in a bid to find a new use for them.

The idea comes after the council recently agreed to reduce its number of public conveniences from 40 to 30 to save £60,000 a year in the first year, and £100,000 a year thereafter.

Barry Hayes, branch manager of Boydens in Clacton, said residents have a blank canvas to work with.

He said: “They are all for let, so we are waiting for someone to put an eye in who is wanting to occupy the buildings.

“At the moment ,they are just sitting there, so it would be great to have someone turn them into something useful, even if we get minimum rent for the lettings in return.

“There was once one in Walton which was transformed into a recording studio, so there are many options.

“The businesses which do let the buildings will have to do their own conversion, but in return we would give them a reasonable length of lease.”

He said commercial leases normally run on a five-year cycle, Boydens could extend the cycle.

Mr Hayes added: “We have already been approached with ideas and people are going to the local authority with suggestions.”

Nigel Brown, Tendring Council’s communications manager, said: “The aim is to use some of the money to upgrade some of the other sites to a higher standard as part of the council’s Public Conveniences Strategy.”

He said the three with Boydens are Marine Parade, near Cliff Road, Dovercourt, Magdalen Green in Clacton, and Ipswich Road, Holland-on-Sea.

“All three have been identified for closure and have potential for commercial use, subject to planning, and could be ideal for starting or developing businesses,” said Mr Brown.

“The council is looking to lease the buildings to suitable tenants and is open to suggestions and proposals from people or companies that may be able to put the buildings into a sympathetic and productive use.”