COUNCILLORS in Melksham have unanimously backed a colleague’s campaign to re-open two sets of public toilets in the town centre.

They hope to re-open the toilets in Bath Road near the King George V playing field and skate park and in Church Street by 2021.

Both sets of toilets were closed by Wiltshire Council some years ago as part of cost-cutting measures, despite a local campaign to keep them open.

Now town councillors have agreed unanimously to back a call by Cllr Mike Sankey to re-open them for use.

Cllr Sankey is hoping to take advantage of the new business rate relief announced by the Government in the November Budget when it becomes available in 2020/21.

Cllr Sankey said: “I am pleased to say that this was agreed unanimously by all members of Melksham Town Council asset management committee.

“It called for the town council to seek to take on leases from Wiltshire Council for the public toilets in Bath Road and Church Street.

“We hope to re-open them for public use as soon as possible once the business rate relief announced in the recent budget comes into effect.”

Cllr Sankey began his campaign for the public toilets to be re-opened after witnessing parents searching for public toilets at the playing field and not finding any.

Some were forced to take children desperate for the loo into bushes to relieve themselves, because there are no public toilets available.

Cllr Sankey added: “The public toilets in the Market Place stayed open because the town council owns the premises and they are part-funded by Melksham Without Parish Council.

“If we can re-open the toilets, it will help families with young toddlers, mothers who need to nappy change their babies, and older people who get caught short while out in the town.”

He’s hoping to monitor the Market Place toilets to provide a costs benchmark.