SHOPPERS are once again able to spend a penny in Royal Wootton Bassett after the town council decided to reopen one of the public toilets in Borough Fields.

The block was closed in April by Wiltshire Council after it gave up responsibility for providing public loos and shoppers have been bending the ears of town councillors about it ever since.

But yesterday part of it was re-opened while plans are made for a £70,000 revamp early next year.

“It’s a great relief,” said mayor Mary Champion. “There has been a lot of work put in by council officers and members of the council to enable us to have these toilets for Wootton Bassett.”

Town clerk Johnathan Bourne explained that unlike public loos in other towns Wiltshire Council could not just hand them over.

“One of the challenges we had with these toilets is that they were under lease from Sainsbury’s so they could not just release them in the same way as the others,” he said.

It was not until September 20 that the town council was able to take possession.

Having inspected the facilities they decided to open the disabled toilet as a temporary measure because it was in the best condition. The others have suffered repeated vandalism and are in a poor state.

The others are going to be redesigned as two single units in a bid to make them less attractive to drug dealers and vandals. CCTV will also be installed on the roof to help cut antisocial behaviour.

The council did a footfall count and decided three toilets would be plenty to cope with demand.

Town councillor John Wilks said: “We’ve had an awful lot of complaints through the office and also to councillors just out shopping.”

His colleague Mike Farrow added: “We can understand the frustration of the people.”

The cost of keeping the toilets open will be added to next year’s town council precept and is likely to mean a two per cent increase.

“I think residents will be happy to pay,” he said.

“On so many occasions I have heard stories of residents and visitors to our town who have been caught short and then horrified to discover we have no public conveniences.

"Although discussions with Wiltshire Council’s legal team have been difficult, we are delighted that the town council have now taken control of this facility. to meet the needs of residents and visitors alike.”

The disabled toilet will close again for six to eight weeks early next year when the revamp starts in earnest.