THE people of Royal Wootton Bassett will never be caught short again following the renovation and ceremonial reopening of the public toilets at Borough Fields.

Convenient in more ways than one, the loos were closed by Wiltshire Council in April last year causing great disruption to shoppers and visitors alike.

But after persuading their county colleagues to allow them to take on the project, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council were able to put the block through a full renovation and refurbishment.

On Saturday the long wait was finally over as the great and good of the town came together to cut the ribbon on their toilets of the future.

Mayor Steve Bicknell said: “As you can tell, it was a big job. For a while now it has been our number one priority.

“When the toilets were closed we could tell that people were getting increasingly desperate. We investigated all sorts of ways to resolve the problem but for a while we had nothing to go on.

“We were bogged down in bureaucracy.”

Coun Bicknell thanked his fellow councillors and the officers of the council for their efforts on delivering the new toilets.

He said it was a great example of the town council being able to take on responsibilities from Wiltshire Council and deliver solutions that work for local residents.

“We can take on local projects and facilities and do a better job than was being done before,” he said.

“That sentiment is echoed by Wiltshire Council, they have the same philosophy.

“Local services are better managed and better looked after by more local authorities.

“What I would say to them is more of it please, we could do a better job with the car park, we could trim the trees - not because we’re a better organised authority but because we’re on the ground and we can respond to the needs of the people of Royal Wootton Bassett.”

The work to revamp the toilets cost in the region of £60,000 to £80,000 and required an increase in the town council’s precept for the first time in a number of years.