THE delivery of a “very important” council project to replace a toilet block in Christchurch town centre is running months behind schedule.

Members of Christchurch Borough Council’s resources committee said the initial tenders for the renovation of the facilities at Saxon Square had come in significantly higher than anticipated.

A budget of £125,000 was allocated for the project, which was approved by community committee late last year.

The work was due to take place immediately after this year’s Christchurch Food Festival, however three months on and no work has occurred.

Independent councillor Colin Bungey raised the lack of progress on the project at this week’s resource committee meeting.

He said: “An issue which concerned me was the new toilets in Saxon Square, which seems to have come to a grinding halt. My understanding is the tenders had come back in somewhat of an excessive amount and it was going out for retender.

“Like the Priory walls I think it is very important we get this started before May next year. We need to have this on the books and started. They were supposed to be started this summer and it didn’t happen.

“It is very important this does happen because we need those new toilets for our visitors.”

The approved arrangement for the new toilet block was four ladies cubicles, two urinals for men and five unisex cubicles and two accessible/family cubicles.

The council hoped the new facilities would reduce the risk of vandalism, which has been a contentious issue in recent weeks, and reduce electricity and water consumption.

Cllr Peter Hall, chairman of the resources committee, said: “The tenders did come in very much higher than anticipated.

“As soon as the food festival finished they should have started on the toilets, but the estimated were very much higher than anticipated.

“They were many, many thousands per square metre, way above the estimates.

“That is being looked at and retendered. We should have an update and it will probably go to community services quite soon. There were only four companies that responded and the cheapest one was still many thousands of pounds a square metre.”

A council spokesperson said officers were evaluating the new tenders. This will be completed by the end of next week. If a suitable tender and contractor is found, work will commence in "late autumn".