SHOPPERS caught short in Royal Wootton Bassett may soon be able to pop to the loo again once the town council takes over the toilets in Borough Fields.

It has been in negotiations with Wiltshire Council following the controversial closure of the toilets back in the spring.

Once a deal is signed it plans to spend up to £70,000 bringing them back up to standard.

Council officials were stuck in a queue behind Salisbury City Council when the unitary authority announced it was withdrawing the service and invited towns and parishes to take them over.

But hopes are high a lease could be signed soon.

“Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council has been working positively with Wiltshire Council to secure a lease on the public toilets in Borough Fields,” the council said in a statement released yesterday.

“Once this is granted by Wiltshire Council, the town council will manage the works necessary to put this facility in good order.

"As soon as the lease is signed by Wiltshire Council, the town council will publish its programme for the proposed improvements of this important facility for the town.”

It added: “The budget is £70,000 to complete the project with an estimated 22 week programme of works, which can only begin when Wiltshire Council signs the lease. We hope this will be soon.”

The closure was condemned by residents back in the spring and yesterday one resident complaining it was having a drastic effect on the town, especially the high street.

Visiting coach parties, often with groups of elderly or young people, were resorting to asking any shop or pub if they could use their loos.

Wiltshire Council handed over or shut down public conveniences across the county following a review last year when it made it clear it would no longer fund maintenance, cleaning and repairs.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We believe town councils are ideally placed to run public conveniences for their local residents and we have been working hard with them across the county to agree this transfer of responsibility.

"Discussions are progressing with Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council but they will have the final decision.”