IT is excellent news that the Chippenham BID has intervened to support the retention, reopening and modest refurbishment of the Bath Road public toilet block. Common sense has at last prevailed. 
It is especially welcome that this has come about through co-operation between local businesses (represented by the Business Improvement District) and the town council. Hopefully Chippenham will benefit from more of this in the future.
A big thank you is due in this case to Owen Inskip, who led the initiative by the BID. This was a very public-spirited contribution. But this has also been a long campaign, going back to last March when Wiltshire Council first offered the toilets to the town council. 
Huge thanks are also due to the many people from across the town (and from outside it), and the town councillors and local business folk who have over this time shown their support for the retention of this public facility, and written and spoken heartfelt objections to the proposals to close it and then to knock it down. 
Now it’s actions that will count. 
We still need to keep a close eye on the transfer to the town council and on the Wiltshire Council’s plans for the Bath road site, and to make sure the toilet is reopened as soon as possible. 
In the meantime, it’s a good result for the town.
Chris Caswill
Wiltshire councillor
Chippenham Monkton