PLANS to close the public toilets in Epping town centre and open a restaurant in their place have been slammed by residents and traders.

The facilities in Bakers Lane, just off Epping High Street, are the only public conveniences in the centre of Epping and are used by scores of shoppers, market traders and walkers every day.

But there are plans for the building to be extended and rented out for use as a restaurant, all the while relying on the good will of the restaurant owner to keep the public toilets open.

Epping Forest District Council hopes that it will be able to rent the building out for £10,000 - £15,000 a year.

The council also hope to save £18000 in lease charges by getting rid of the Automated Public Convenience in Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, and moving the Superloo currently located opposite the Bakers Lane conveniences there instead.

Residents and traders have slammned the plans.

June O’Brien, who is a member of the Epping Society, said: “ It all seems quite strange and it does make me very suspicious.

“If I was a restaurant owner I would not want customers traipsing through and not buying anything. I doubt they would be kept open.

Barry Seager is the chairman of the Epping Town Centre Partnership, which campaigns for the town centre’s businesses.

He said: “Epping has too many bars and restaurants as it is. To be honest, I’m not sure I would want to go for a meal in there.

“They are the only facilities in the centre of Epping and it is really important to keep them open. Market traders, shoppers, walkers, all kinds of people use them.”

A council spokeswoman said: "The proposal is for the Cabinet to request the Council to approve extra money to spend up to £5,000 to engage consultants to prepare and submit a planning application for the redevelopment of the toilet block in Bakers Lane, Epping for a restaurant/ take away service.

"If Cabinet agree then it will go to full council and all councillors will decide if to go ahead with engaging the consultants.

"It will then follow the usual planning procedure, during which consultation is carried out.

"If the block is converted public use of the toilets will be retained (as a condition in the planning consent).

"This proposal will reduce the current maintenance and lease costs to both the District and Town Councils and will result in valuable additional income from the restaurant/take away service.

In addition the District Council will save £18,016 in lease charges currently paid to J C Decaux for the APC at Queens Road.

"The public will have toilet facilities maintained to a high standard, free of charge and the intention is that they would be open for at least the same hours as at present. However, this will have to be negotiated with the ingoing lessee.

"The proposal stems as part of an ongoing review of the Council’s assets to ensure maximum income is being generated

"If the toilets are not redeveloped as proposed the District Council could have to deal with dilapidations estimated at between £20,000 - £30,000."