THE next stage of a masterplan to give Oxford world-class loos is under way as work starts to revamp public toilets in Gloucester Green.

Oxford City Council will spend £100,000 over the coming months to redevelop the toilets, off George Street in the city centre.

It is part of a £450,000 scheme to bring all its 21 public toilets up to scratch over the next few years.

City centre toilets like Gloucester Green will get a new look with fresh flowers, books and Oxford Mail reviews on the walls.

The Market Street toilets were the first to re-open after a four-month £75,000 revamp last month.

Board member for Cleaner, Greener Oxford John Tanner said: “I am thrilled that we are finally getting started on the Gloucester Green loos.

“We are putting in temporary toilets there and I apologise for the inconvenience but the new and improved facilities will be worth waiting for.

“I want these toilets to be the best in Britain so people visit Oxford again and again.

Earlier this month the council completed its renovation of the Market Street toilets, the city’s busiest.

Mr Tanner said: “We have received some very positive comments from members of the public about the Market Street toilets, so it is full steam ahead.”

All toilets will have existing stainless steel fittings replaced with a hygienic composite material.

They will also get vandal-resistant dryers which council bosses promise will deliver better quality soap and lighting.

There will also be hooks for bags and coats and easy-to-use locks.

There had been discussions about charging to use Gloucester Green but Mr Tanner says this has been resolved.

He said: “The plan now is that nearly all the toilets will be free but one overnight toilet will be paid for.

“We decided it is not worth collecting the money because of the problems that brings.

“But the reason we have decided to have one paid-for toilet is to give people a choice. We do have problems with the overnight toilets in terms of people sleeping in them and things like that.

“If there is one toilet which is likely to be nicer then people might be happy to pay for it.”

Once the Gloucester Green toilets are finished in the summer the council will begin work on the Cutteslowe Park toilets.

No decision has been made about which city centre toilets will be next.