THE old women’s public loos in Ilminster look set to be given a new lease of life.

The toilet block in West Street has been closed since new loos were built at Tesco.

South Somerset District Council, which owns the property, has spent several months trying to lease it out, instructing letting agents Symonds and Sampson to market the building.

Now Janet Byrne from the nearby Oakapple Veterinary Surgery has applied for planning permission.

She has submitted an application seeking a change of use from public toilets to storage.

Her application says the building would be used to store paperwork and equipment.

“No medicines will be stored there,” she said. “There will be one chest freezer to store clinical waste, which will be collected once a week by a commercial waste disposal company.”

The council approved plans earlier this year for the demolition of the gents’ public loos in West Street and a redundant bus shelter to make way for a new home, garden and parking.

Planners are expected to make a decision on the change of use of the women’s toilets in November.