Lovers' haunt set to face the bulldozer

A notorious block of toilets in Wednesbury could be demolished, it emerged today.

The facilities at The Shambles have been closed for weeks after becoming a hotspot for couples indulging in sexual activity.

West Midlands Police officers had already stepped up patrols in the area after receiving information that the toilets were being used as a meeting place for couples and now Sandwell Council is now considering knocking down the toilet block in a bid to stamp out problems for good.

Wednesbury North ward's Councillor Bill Archer said: "I put in a request asking about if they were going to be reopened, because there is a need for public toilets in the town.

"The toilets were closed on police advice due to illegal sexual activity."

A letter received from the council says: "At the moment we do not have any indication when these facilities are due to reopen or whether any refurbishment will take place.

The letter, which says the public can also use toilets at Morrisons supermarket and the bus station, adds that given the current anti-social behaviour it might well be that the facilities at The Shambles are demolished.

Councillor Archer said: "I think it does appear they are not going to open again, but it is an old building with character and rather than demolish them and leave an open space they could at least leave them there for future generations to see a bit of the old character of Wednesbury."

Sandwell's neighbourhood's boss, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, said he expects to make a decision on the future of the toilets soon.

"They were closed because there was a lot of anti-social behaviour.

"The police made a request and we responded to that request," he said.

"We are considering the future options and we will be making a decision whether to reopen or demolish them in the next two to three weeks."