Innovation Hub to Open in Derelict Public Lavatories
A local council has announced plans to open a innovation Centre in the former public conveniences on the corner of Spindleberry Common.
The project will be funded by a grant from Innovate UK, the government’s innovation agency, which asserts that its programmes deliver £7 of economic benefit for every £1 of taxpayer money invested, but is yet to provide detailed evidence to support this claim.
Council Leader Jarvis Winkletoot welcomed the initiative, saying:
“Our strong relationship with the local university made us natural candidates for Innovate UK support. Few understand innovation better than those who have never been burdened by the demands of a commercial environment.”
An Innovate UK spokesperson added:
“We are proud to support the regeneration of this formally popular cottaging spot. By installing a glass frontage and a community ideas board, we believe innovation will be inevitable.”
Early project proposals for the hub include:
- Developing a digital twin of the public lavatory to ‘optimise footfall dynamics’
- Introducing IoT-enabled waste bins to ‘enhance citizen engagement’
- Launching a blockchain-based volunteer registry for local litter picking
- Hosting hackathons focused on “rethinking public seating solutions”
The Innovation Centre is expected to open in the coming weeks, subject to minor delays relating to asbestos removal and ongoing public health concerns.
