PLANS to reopen an old toilet block in Shipley town centre are forging ahead despite a "disturbing" building fire last week.
Firefighters were called to the toilet block in Shipley marketplace near Kirkgate at 10.10pm last Friday.
The blaze damaged the roof but the extent of the damage to the building's interior is not known.
A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "No cause has been reported and so this is not being treated as suspicious."
The building has been earmarked as a potential location to reopen the toilets as part of a £25 million government Town Funds scheme.
A Shipley MP has called the fire damage "disturbing" and the clerk of Shipley Town Council has said that plans to reopen are still going ahead.
Shipley MP Philip Davies said: "The fire at the old public toilets in Shipley is very disturbing.
"We need public toilets in Shipley town centre and I am delighted the Board set up to invest the £25 million provided by the government for Shipley town centre decided to spend some of the money on new public toilets.
"This should have no bearing on that but it is nevertheless disturbing and I trust the fire experts and police get to the bottom of those responsible."
Joe Ashton, Shipley Town Council clerk, said: "We have every intention of continuing to open these toilets. The exact implications of what's happened to the building due to the fire are uncertain but this is clearly a building we intend to refurbish, so this fire is not helpful."
Mr Ashton explained: "The toilets are part of the proposal to reopen toilets in Shipley town centre.
"This old toilet block is included in two choices for the Town Funds scheme.
"One involves refurbishing this toilet block and the other would be to build a new toilet block next to it and use this building as storage."
He believes the projects would cost in the region of £100,000 to £200,000.
"The building, which is owned by Bradford Council, was significantly damaged by fire. I would say that 25 per cent of the roof was damaged.
"There was due to be a site visit this Thursday by the property manager and architect. That will still happen as long as it is safe to enter."
Mr Ashton said the building closed as public toilets in April 2017.
However, he said: "The building is used by the market traders. It's not derelict. They use it as a unisex toilet and storage."
He said the toilet block is the former men's toilets. A separate building containing the former women's toilets was sold off by the council and is used by two shops.
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