Year 10 & Community Use Toilet Facilities Project

Since Priory took over the running of its out of school hours hire in 2021 there has been a need to provide better toilet facilities for Year 10 pupils and community users of the school’s football and cricket facilities.

As the school’s commitment to the South Ribble local leisure plan, we applied to South Ribble Borough Council for financial assistance towards creating improved toilet, changing and accessible toilet facilities close to the school’s 3G and grass pitches which are used in the evenings and weekends by local teams and clubs. 

Priory was successful in being awarded a grant by the council which PPA Facilities, the school’s lettings management arm, boosted.  Together these funds have enabled the building of the fresh facilities seen today.

This toilet area had not had any major work done to it for at least 25 years and it is now fit for modern purposes.  They were originally two toilet blocks which were old-fashioned and badly in need of renovation, there was also a lot of wasted space. Over the summer holidays, it was transformed into toilets for Year 10s to use during school hours and they will also be used by the community, via facility hire, in the evenings and weekends.  In addition, two brand new changing rooms have been added to the plan, alongside a refurbished accessible toilet that can also be accessed outside of school hours.

Priory’s Strategic Estates Development Manager Mr Bolton said: “There was a male and female toilet block originally and such a lot of wasted space.”

“They needed updating and we needed to use the space better both for our pupils and for the community using our facilities outside of school hours.”

"They have been completely transformed. The toilets are more inviting and I am really pleased with how they have turned out. They now look modern and fresh.”

“As well as the toilets, we added two new changing rooms which are a superb use of the space and they will make our facilities more attractive to clubs wanting to use them. We didn’t have anywhere for teams to change previously so this is something else which the community can use when they have booked our facilities such as the 3G pitches or the cricket wicket."

Austin Watson Ltd were the main building contractors and Director Luke Watson said: “We were the main contractor so we were working on the job all over the summer, liaising with the architects Eric Wright and Mr Bolton.

“It took about ten weeks to complete and there was pressure as we needed to finish before school re-started but I think we thrive under pressure and I am really pleased with how it's all turned out.”

Senior Building Surveyor from Eric Wright Partnership Ltd Ian Duffy said: “We did the initial designs and there was such a lot of wasted space originally. It’s been brilliant working with Mr Bolton and Austin Watson Ltd which made the job easy for us.”

Principal Mr Eastham said: “They are absolutely fantastic. We let parents and pupils look around the new Year 10 toilets and the changing rooms on Open Evening and they were calling it ‘posh’ and were blown away by the facilities. They make such a difference.”

The project’s main contractor, local company Austin Watson Ltd used local sub-contractors for all elements of the build. These sub-contractors are also companies that Priory commissions regularly for work on the estate.

We would like to express thanks to all the sub-contractors for their work on this project. Listed below are the companies:

Alliance Door Engineering Ltd, Banks Flooring Solutions Ltd, Bradley Environmental Ltd, Carrigan Plumbing & Heating Ltd, Kool Planet Ltd, MJ Ceilings Ltd, Walker Gabbott Electrical Ltd, Window Fix, Wolf Security NW Ltd. All the toilet cubicle ancillaries were supplied by Bushboard Washrooms Ltd who have also supplied products elsewhere in the school.

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