IT WILL cost at least £40,000 for remaining work to make all public lavatories in Richmondshire accessible to the disabled, district councillors will be told next week.

Local authorities and other bodies running public services must consider by October what steps they will take to ensure that their premises comply with the requirements of the forthcoming Disability Discrimination Act.

Eighteen of the 26 public toilet sites run by Richmondshire District Council have disabled access following programmes of refurbishment and the environment and planning committee will be asked on Tuesday to support proposed improvement works at the remaining eight.

Environment unit manager Martin Garside says many of the eight sites could be improved at relatively little cost, with only minor alterations and the introduction of unisex toilets rather than separate allocations for men and women.

Mr Garside says unisex toilets had already been successfully introduced in refurbishments at Ronaldshay Park, Richmond, and Gunnerside.

At Keld, Mr Garside is suggesting that the existing men's and women's toilets should be converted into unisex cubicles with a separate men's urinal at an estimated cost of £8,600.

Similar work with improved access is envisaged at Langthwaite, Arkengarthdale, at an estimated £10,000, and at Scorton for about £15,500.

At Grinton and Earl's Orchard, Richmond, existing women's toilets could be converted to unisex cubicles for an estimated £7,100 and £8,100 respectively.

Mr Garside says discussions are taking place with Richmond Town Council about possible schemes for the male and female toilets in the market place but no estimates are yet available.

He adds that the structural constraints of the urinals at Hawes mean that disabled access cannot be achieved there but two other sites in the town, run by Richmondshire and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, meet requirements.

He adds that minor improvements such as better lighting, signs and door controls will be needed at some other toilets.