A PROPOSAL for free standing toilets to replace the public toilet block on Cross Hayes Lane was approved by Malmesbury Town Council's finance committee last Thursday.

The current toilets were described as "bog standard" on a recent BBC TV programme and county councillor John Thomson wants to install two hi-tech freestanding toilets with self cleaning cubicles as a replacement.

The unisex toilets are also built to accommodate wheelchairs.

The biggest difficulty will be deciding where they are put and how they are financed.

Coun Thomson would like to see one of the toilets placed at the long stay car park to cater for the hordes of tourists viewing the abbey and the abbey house gardens.

The other is likely to be placed in a more central position yet to be decided.

A quotation from Calne firm Healthmatic places the cost of a refurbished Wessex automatic toilet cubicle at £25,000 or £2,500 a year on a 15-year lease.

There would be additional running costs of up to £13,000 a year. The plan will now go to full council for approval.