Port Erin Commissioners has applied to convert the former toilets on Bridson Street into a heritage centre to be run by Rushen Heritage Trust.

The toilet block and bus shelter was also the town’s main bus stop until that moved to outside the railway station as part of regeneration project in 2017.

Rushen Heritage Trust (RHT) said in the application (19/00613/B) it plans to carry out reconstructive work on the building to create one large meeting room with a store room, office, toilet and kitchenette.

This will include replacing the existing wooden frame windows and installing three large glass doors on the front to seal the building.

The commissioners said in their part of the application that they were considering simply demolishing the building and tarmacing the site before HRT came forward with its proposal.

The toilets have recently been closed by the commissioners who said they no longer conform to disabled access laws and bringing them up standard would be at a large cost.

The town still retains four public toilets having taken over a second block on the sea front near The Bay Hotel.

The centre would be known as ’Tree Archyn’, Manx for three arches, taken from the three central arches of the building’s design.

RHT said it intends to use the facility as a welcome centre, a visitor information centre, somewhere for small exhibits to be displayed, a stopping place for coaches visiting the town and for RHT to sell and distribute books, booklets and promoting future events.

The application added that the ’main purpose is to provide RHT with a permanent physical presence in Rushen’.

The planned opening hours are five or six days a week from 10am to 4pm with the possibility of evening meetings being held there.

Port Erin Commissioners confirmed it has agreed, in principle, to lease the building to RHT subject to approval being granted and formal lease agreement being made.