Work has begun to demolish a public toilet block in Ashford town centre.

Councillors approved plans to close and bulldoze the Vicarage Lane car park toilets behind the Mecca bingo hall last month.

The loos date back to the 1960s and have a history of vandalism. They were often visited by drug users and Ashford Borough Council (ABC) faced rising costs to maintain them.

Pre demolition work began on Monday, with metal fences put up around the site to block it off.

An ABC spokesman said: “Works to remove the public toilets in Vicarage Lane car park are expected to take approximately four to five weeks.

“We understand this may cause some disruption to those using the car park but this is being minimised by the works being undertaken at quieter times of the day.

“The nearest toilets to Vicarage Lane car park are located close by in the Ashford Gateway. The facilities are one of many included in the Community Toilet Scheme which provide safe, hygienic and accessible toilet facilities in Ashford town centre.

“Signage within the car park lists all the toilet facilities within this scheme.

“We would like to thank residents for their understanding and patience at this time.”

The council believes that the Community Toilet Scheme including shops and restaurants will mean that overall there will be more lavatories available to visitors in the town centre, free of charge.

ABC will hand over cash to businesses so shoppers and residents don’t have to purchase goods or services to use them.

Twelve businesses are currently signed up to the scheme.

The number of disabled bays in the car park will be temporarily reduced from 25 to 15 during the works.

Blue badge holders can park in standard car park spaces as well as on double yellow lines provided it is safe and legal to do so with their badge displayed.

The disabled bays will be reinstated when the work is complete.

Access to the car park remains the same, but users should be mindful and careful of the works taking place.

The area will be turned into extra car parking spaces.

When first announced, plans were met with anger from some campaigners, such as George Galdies, 81, who believed the demolition will turn the town centre into a “no-go zone” for the elderly.