The saga of where to put a public toilet needed in South Dunedin returned to the council's planning and environment committee meeting yesterday.
The council had been unable to find consensus that would allow the building of a long-awaited toilet, an issue it has been considering for about three years.
Lorne St, a pedestrian-only access off King Edward St, was identified as a preferred site, but nearby banks had security concerns, and bank staff on lunch breaks used benches near to where the toilet would be located, so it was planned for further down the street, outside the Dunedin Spiritualist Church.
But that idea was "tantamount to sacrilege" the church said earlier this year, and a report to yesterday's committee suggested a site in a car park off Rankeilor St.
The idea of a site so far off the main street, and so close to toilets already in position in Hillside Rd did sit well with councillors, who voted for a site halfway down the street, not far from King Edward St.
Committee chairman Michael Guest said the car park option may have achieved consensus with nearby businesses and the church, but that was because it was "out of sight, out of mind".
"That's why there's consensus.
"Are we placing too much emphasis on individual businesses, and the users can go to hell?"Cr Bill Acklin said safety, accessibility and availability were important for a public toilet, and the car park option would rate poorly for those.
Cr John Bezett, who has a long history of involvement in the issue, said he would abstain from voting because he had been accused of trying to influence the process.
He still made clear his thoughts, and said the car park option was "not an option at all".
Cr Fliss Butcher, who was the only one to vote against the option, said the street should be kept clear for markets.
The meeting voted 8-1 for the Lorne St site, and Cr Bezett said after the meeting he expected the plan to be approved by a full council meeting on November 3, and the toilet to be in place within a month.
