MONEY from the sale of a former toilet block in Bowness should be invested into more facilities for visitors to spend a penny, a councillor has said.

A meeting of South Lakeland District Council's (SLDC) cabinet agreed in principle that the former public conveniences on Glebe Road should be sold to United Utilities.

And although councillors voted in favour of the recommendation, Cllr David Williams urged for the money raised to go towards new toilets.

"I would like to see the money that's realised from this put into provision of some more toilets in Bowness," he said. "I don't know if you're aware but the existing toilets on the Glebe are the second most used after the London Eye. We need more provision for toilets in Bowness."

Outside of the meeting, Liberal Democrat councillors in Windermere have been pushing for the money to be spent on play areas.

District councillors Andrew Jarvis and Dyan Jones, and town councillor Magda Khan, want the money to be spent on a new play area at Millerground and improvements to existing play parks.

Cllr Jarvis said: “Whenever I speak to local mums and dads who have young kids, they all say that new equipment in play areas is badly needed and the announcement of this extra money gives us a golden opportunity to do just that.

“On top of this, a brand-new play area at Millerground would be great for the local community and we’ll continue to push for this in the coming weeks and months.”

United Utilities wants to buy the block as part of its plans to upgrade the network of sewers in Bowness.

The support infrastructure for this work needs to be located near to the current pumping station, which is located at Glebe Road car park and the junction of the new and old sewers.

Cllr Giles Archibald offered reassurances to councillors at the meeting about how the money might be spent.

"The intent is that this money will be used for the benefit of Windermere and Bowness," he said. "And we will be in consultation with the town council and councillors."