TWO public toilets are soon to go under the hammer.

Disused loos at Stramongate Bridge in Kendal (pictured above) and at Goadsbarrow, near Ulverston, are being offered for sale with a guide price between £8,000 and £12,000 at a property auction on February 26.

The conveniences were run by South Lakeland District Council and are the first two to be sold off as part of the authority's controversial cost-cutting policy to dispose of around one-third of its public toilets.

David Downing, of estate agents Carigiet Cowan, which is marketing the property for SLDC, explained that the loos were being auctioned for the council after a sale on the open market fell through.

"Deals were principally agreed, then the top bidders pulled out or reduced their offer," he said. "The council felt that disposal at auction was the cleanest and fairest way as all parties had equal opportunity to put in a bid."

The auction takes place at the Atlantic Suite, in terminal two of Manchester Airport. The sales catalogue is available at www.pugh-company.co.uk.

February 10, 2003 14:30