A KEY first stop for tourists to Winchester is set for a £150,000 makeover.

Work at Abbey Garden's toilets will receive the go-ahead if the full council approves the expenditure at a meeting on February 28.

The proposals include having the male, female and disabled toilets all in one building, the existing men's conveniences. The present women's toilet would be turned into storage facilities for the gardener.

Cllr Frank Pearson, Winchester City Council's portfolio holder for environment, health and safety, described the toilets as being "in a very sad condition".

He added: "The first thing people do when they come off the coaches is go to the toilet and it is not a good first impression."

If approval and planning permission is granted, work would begin in the women's toilets, with the next phase being to close the existing male and disabled toilets and convert them into the proposed facilities.

Cabinet leader Cllr George Beckett said: "It is a priority for Cabinet that the facilities in Abbey Gardens are improved for both residents and visitors. The toilets are in a very poor condition and we hope that improving them will be approved as part of our budget for the coming year, when it is decided at council in February."