A CITY councillor hopes new toilets set to be built in Gheluvelt Park will stop parents dumping used nappies around the splashpad.

The public loos have been approved as part of a £200,000 redevelopment of the 'old and dilapidated' Sons of Rest pavilion.

At the moment residents say the Barbourne Lane toilets, which are around 600 feet from the splashpad, are too far away.

Andy Stafford, councillor for Claines in Worcester City Council, says he hopes new toilets around 300 feet away from the splashpad, will stop the nappy dumping.

Cllr Stafford said: "Hopefully these new facilities will prevent the regular occurrence of some splashpad users toileting in the bushes and leaving used nappies.

"I have gone and picked up some nappies myself. Some of the residents pick up litter but stop at nappies.

"It's just a few people being inconvenient. You can take the nappies home with you or put them in the nearest bin."

Cllr Stafford said the 'much needed' toilets should resolve residents' complaints about the nappy dumpers around the splashpad.

Joy Squires, district councillor for Arboretum, said: "When we have young children they need to go to the toilet straight away.

"Bringing them closer to the splash pad will make it more convenient for parents.

"The current toilets are located a long way from the splashpad."

A Worcester City Council spokesman said: "Residents have said in surveys it's too far for children in the splashpad to go to the toilets and come back again."

The spokesman also said parents had safety concerns about their children using the toilets unaccompanied.

Cllr Patricia Agar, vice chairman of the planning committee, said: "The current toilets are not very good.

"There have been assaults, drug issues and anti-social behaviour there previously.

Cllr Agar said the Sons of Rest building was 'old and decrepit' and in need of modernisation.

City councillors gave unanimous approval to the replacement project at a planning committee meeting in Guildhall on Thursday, August 25.

Some councillors sought reassurance about management of the building and how it would be secured at night.

Cllr Stafford also expressed his concerns about construction vehicles parking in nearby roads during the work.

The new building will have an improved community room, a kitchenette and a kiosk.

There will also be one wheelchair accessible toilet and five unisex loos, one of which will have nappy changing facilities.

Cllr Squires said the project will help Friends of Gheluvelt Park host a range of community activities.

Councillors praised the development and universally agreed it would benefit the park.

Cllr Stafford said the park and splashpad had been an incredible success, drawing in more than 900,000 visitors annually.

Gheluvelt Park is a Grade II listed Historic park and Garden and is set to have a new sign.