A BLOCK of toilets could be converted into offices for a coach company.

Plans have been submitted for part of the public toilet block in Union Terrace car park on Clarence Street to become offices for Acklams Coaches.

The toilets closed in 2014 but are still owned by City of York Council.

The planning application says: “Acklams Coaches are a long established, local bus company who specialise in coach tours and private hire. Founded in 1953 and still family owned and managed, the company has bases in York, Beverley and Hull.

“The application site is a perfect location for the business’s York base.”

The document says it is an “ideal drop off point” for the coachloads of visitors to York who arrive from North Sea ferry terminals 362 days a year.

“As the company’s York base, it will be a place where customers can come to have a chat with staff members, pick up a brochure or make a booking. It will also be an office for some administrative staff and a staff welfare facility for the company’s drivers,” according to the application.

It adds that there is “no prospect” of the toilets being brought back into use.

Healthmatic – the company that runs and maintains public conveniences in York – applied to convert the unused male WC area of the toilets in Union Street Car Park, on Clarence Street, into a cafe with outside seating and takeaway facilities earlier this year but the application was turned down by members of the planning committee.

It was decided that the plan would result in harm to the vitality and viability of existing businesses in Gillygate, and that the development had the potential to increase anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the area.

In addition, the sub-committee believed that the proposal would result in the permanent loss of public toilet facilities in an area that currently has inadequate toilet facilities.

But the recent application by the bus company says: “The proposed development involves the reuse of a partly vacant building and bringing it back into active use.”

It adds that the plan will bring new jobs to the city and sustain existing roles as well as providing a base for a local company.