SOUTH Ayrshire Council has passed the final hurdle of its plan to turn a disused Ayr toilet block into a takeaway.

The council applied for planning permission earlier this year to repurpose the former loos at the corner of the Low Green Esplanade and Blackburn Drive.

The application was for a change of use of a former public convenience building to a hot food takeaway with an external seating area.

The council is planning to lease the former toilets to a local business to create a café kiosk.

The property was marketed for lease as a development opportunity during October and November last year.

The building has been declared surplus to the council's requirements and the proposed redevelopment would provide a new food and drink facility.

The Ayr Common Good Fund would benefit from the annual rent paid over the 25-year lease. 

Two objections were lodged, one relating to the use of common good land for the proposed bin storage area and one around the maintenance of access for wheelchairs and prams to the rear of the building.

The proposals were recommended for approval by the council's planning officers, with a number of conditions attached. 

A report by SAC's planning department said that "there is no specific operator for the premises at the time of the application and therefore no details regarding the operation of the premises has been provided".

The report stated: "It is noted that the building is located along Ayr seafront, which is considered to be an area visited by tourists to South Ayrshire.

"As such, there are other food and drink kiosks/restaurant/cafes within this locale which service both local residents and tourists through the year.

"It is also acknowledged that hot food takeaway uses are ordinarily directed towards town centre areas.

"However, considering that the proposed use of the building, while bringing a vacant building back into use, would add to the existing food and drink offering in the nearby area, therefore also improving tourist facilities at this locale, it is not considered that this location is inappropriate for the hot food takeaway use proposed in this instance.

"It is not considered that the proposals will adversely impact on the amenity of the surrounding locale or have a detrimental impact on its setting."

Neither the Ayrshire Roads Alliance nor the council's own environmental health team objected to the proposal.

The application was referred to SAC's regulatory panel for planning because of the local authority's financial and ownership interest in the site.

A court hearing took place at Ayr Sheriff Court on September 26 to ratify the decision, due to the toilets being on Common Good land.

The notice fell under Section 75(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which allows local authorities to apply to a sheriff for permission to dispose of land that is part of the common good. 

A council spokesperson confirmed that a sheriff had approved the council's plans for the site. 

They added: "We are now looking to conclude with the successful party."