WARMINSTER Town Council reopened the public toilets on Wednesday – a month ahead of schedule.

The council had set an opening date of July 1 but after months of hard work to complete the necessary paperwork, they were able to reopen the public conveniences on June 1.

Since the toilets were closed by Wiltshire Council on April 1, the council received a number of complaints from residents and visitors to the town who were disappointed to see notices on the toilet doors advising them to use shops and restaurants instead.

Cllr Rob Fryer said: “I am absolutely delighted to see the public toilets back open, we never wanted to see them closed in the first place, of course.

“Sadly it wasn't just a case of Wiltshire Council handing the keys over to us, which is why it took a while.

“Fortunately we have a very efficient team who worked very hard to complete the cumbersome process.”

Councillors had previously voted unanimously to accept the quotation from The Landscape Group of an annual cost of £18,858 to clean and secure the public conveniences in the central car park and the town park.

Now that the public toilets are open again, Cllr Fryer would like to see the town park restored to its former glory.

He said: “We’re hoping to have a paddling pool in the park next year and we’re also going to make improvements to the skate park.

“In the future, I would like to see the lake being used for boats again. Everyone I have spoken to would love to see them return – it would bring a new dimension to the town.

“People used to come to Warminster from all over especially for the boating lake, it would be great to have it back.

“It will be a long process but hopefully we can make it happen.”