Approval is expected this week for the so-called Weymouth seafront 'superloo.'

The £400,000 scheme comes before Dorset Council planners at a meeting in Dorchester on Thursday May 30th.

It involves refurbishing and extending the existing Esplanade beach office with a changing room and access to underground toilets and meeting rooms.

The upper floor will have a new beach control office with an outdoor seating terrace to the north side of the building. The extended beach office, on stilts, will project over the Esplanade.

The plans also show beach showers as well as a single storey extension to include a beach kiosk. Overall the building will add 22 unisex toilets, including accessible toilets, a parent room and family room.

Weymouth Civic Society says its pleased to see the increase in facilities but has worries about the look of a row of toilet doors facing the beach. Weymouth Access Group has welcomed the new disabled-friendly loos but has concerns about possible charges.

Several people have commented that the building should have more solar panels.

It is expected that the loo may become the first in the town where customers will be charged to use the facilities – with a fee of between 20p and 50p suggested during discussions last year.

A British Toilet Association report on Weymouth last year identified that there were not enough loos for people using the beach in the holiday season.

The building will see a lift installed so the beach control office, on the first floor, will be accessible to those with mobility problems.