Updated: A seating area on the roof of the old Triangle toilets, which currently looks like a health and safety nightmare, could be completed by next spring.

What appeared to be council representatives were seen examining the area this week, apparently as the early part of a feasibility exercise.

According to a letter apparently sent out towards the end of May to around 1000 Bitterne Park households nearest the Triangle by ward councillor David Fuller (Con), funding has been secured “to give a new lease of life to this area of the Triangle” from the Community Infrastructure Levy.

The letter said: “Unfortunately, the building is no longer structurally sound enough to be reused as a building in its own right. However, we are looking at ways to use the roof area by filling, or otherwise securing, the building to create new public realm for the local residents and visitors to enjoy. We envisage this taking the form of a platform-like space overlooking Riverside Park with seating, or perhaps a community garden.”

The letter asked for views to be fed into the initial design works. Bitterne Park councillors’ email addresses are here. We understand the scheme is still being planned, with a possible completion date in spring next year.

The previous 'pay as you go' 'tardis' loo

It looks like it won’t however mean public toilets will return: these and a park cafe are the improvements people often say they’d like to see added to award-winning Riverside Park.

As reported, the ‘pay as you go’ public toilet was removed from the Triangle in March 2020, and closed for use at the end of 2019, making the Triangle a ‘no go zone’ apart from loos within local cafes.

This article was substantially revised on 12/9/22 in the light of new information