Bid for Felixstowe Lions Club toilets approved by East Suffolk Council but could be blocked… by the same council

A bid for a charity's toilets has been approved by a council but could be blocked... by a council.

Felixstowe Lions Club applied for changes to its original 2021 bid for a demountable workshop and three containers on land within the Garrison Lane car park for the storage of the town centre's Christmas lights.

The charity's new application sought to update the layout of the site due to the buildings being put together differently from the original plans, build an extra storage container and bring in a self-contained toilet unit.

Graham Phelps, the charity's treasurer, said the extra storage was needed after it received extra funding to be 'more adventurous with the lights'.

As part of the 2021 plans, FACTS, another charity with buildings near the site, would provide access to its toilets but this has since been withdrawn, leaving the lions club in need of a new toilet.

On Tuesday afternoon, councillors from the planning committee were receptive to the plans and agreed to approve the application unanimously.

However, despite their decision, the plans might end up being blocked by the landowner - also the council.

This is because the authority's property and place team objected to the proposals and, as the landowner, can prevent any changes even if councillors approved the plans.