The 'dodgy' toilets on Norwich's historic market need to be urgently revamped because they could put off tourists, a city councillor has claimed.
Norwich City Council has drawn up a 10-year strategy for Norwich Market, following a survey last year.
In that strategy, the council acknowledged there was a 'need for change' to address problems with the market, including that about a third of stalls are currently empty.
The report stated: 'Without some action then Norwich market will become a burden to the council and will result in the council subsidising its existence.
'Evidence across the country has shown with investing some resource into improving the market, then, sustainability becomes a reality.
'A return on the investment will happen, the length of time of this depending upon the amount and type of resource provided.'
The strategy came under the spotlight at a meeting of the city council's scrutiny committee yesterday.
Councillors were told two new temporary market managers had been appointed and the council had been working with the newly- revived Norwich Market Traders' Association to bring improvements, including a clean-up of the 900-year-old city institution.
But David Bradford, Labour councillor for Crome, said an issue which needed to be tackled was the state of the public toilets and the area leading up to them.
He said: 'There is a big issue with the area leading up to the toilets at the back of the market. People stand on the balcony and feed the pigeons. It is the fag end of the market, complete with the dodgy toilets and would put off any tourist coming through.'
Council officers said there was money in the capital budget which could be made available for work on the toilets, but that 'money had been a little tight' at City Hall in the past year.
There was also a call at the meeting to approach bus companies to see if they could realign their routes to pass the market.
Lesley Grahame, Green councillor for Thorpe Hamlet, said buses used to drop passengers off near Oxfam in St Giles, close to the market, but recent changes meant they did not pass near it.
Labour's Roger Ryan, who represents University ward said the council could ask, but his party colleague David Fullman, who represents Mancroft, said he was not convinced bus companies would be keen to do so.
• What do you think of the market? Write, giving full contact details, to Letters Editor, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email EDPletters@archant.co.uk
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