Wind power will be put to good use when Ryedale District Council lifts the lid on a new-look public loo next week.

Ryedale Council's Jo Woliter outside the new loo

Council chairman Coun Gary Hobbs will officially open a toilet block with a difference at the car park and picnic area at Staxton Brow, about 15 miles east of Malton.

The lavatories there are the first in the district to be powered by wind - providing an easy laugh for all lovers of lavatorial humour.

A 12-volt wind charger on a 6.5 metre tall pole charges three batteries. They in turn power the heating, water and lights at the loos.

"Not only is the facility environmentally-friendly, but we have the added benefit of no ongoing fuel bills," Coun Hobbs said.

Staff from Scarborough Borough Council's Direct Labour Organisation have carried out the refurbishment work over six weeks. The toilet block at Staxton Brow, which is at the eastern edge of the Ryedale district, now boasts baby changing facilities and a lavatory for use by disabled people.

Work also included building a new entrance and cubicles, installing new plumbing, fitting new sanitary ware, laying new paving outside the block, as well as seating and planting.

The Staxton Brow loos posed a problem for the district council when refurbishment plans were drawn up.

Because of its isolated position high on the edge of the Wolds above the A170 Malton-Scarborough Road, the toilet block was not served by mains electricity.

This meant that the loos had no hot water, lighting or heating and had to close early on dark winter evenings.

The council also considered using solar power in conjunction with wind power to ensure the Staxton Brow toilets had a bright and breezy future.

It had identified the loos as being the most in need of refurbishment in the district.

The newly-refurbished facilities may well be in the running for a prize in the 1999-2000 Loo of the Year Awards.

Earlier this year, two other loos operated by Ryedale District Council were commended for their overall cleanliness and high levels of hygiene after they were entered in the 1998-9 contest.

The public conveniences at Cleveland Way in Helmsley and Town Farm at Kirkbymoorside were among 1,000 loos nationwide vying for honours in the competition.

Ryedale District Council is no stranger to green initiatives, having installed solar-powered ticket machines in all of its pay-and-display car parks and running vans powered by liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.