Residents call for town centre toilets to reopen

Concerns have been raised about the lack of public toilets in the town centre, with residents calling for the Church Street facilities to be reopened.

They say current provision at the Market Place and Bath Road is ‘not enough’, particularly for the growing elderly population and those with medical conditions. The Church Street toilets were closed by Wiltshire Council in 2016, who say that Melksham Town Council is responsible for toilet provision in the town.

Speaking at a recent town council Amenities and Facilities meeting, resident Sue Mortimer said, “Residents are asking when the Church Street toilets are going to be reopened. Well-maintained toilets are beneficial for trade and economy at any town. It encourages visitors to stay longer and also to come in the first place.”

Speaking to Melksham News, one resident said, “There is a distinct lack of decent toilets in the town. It is quite a long walk to the campus, especially if you are elderly like me and my husband. The toilets near the town hall are disgusting, old and dirty.”

Another resident added, “With the number of elderly residents now in Melksham, to only have two public toilets open is not enough. Please open and repair the ones that are currently closed.”

Sue Mortimer asked the council if earmarked reserves or sponsorship could be used to get the toilets running again. She added, “Opening Church Street toilets should be a priority.”

However, at the meeting, Cllr Adrienne Westbrook said there was ‘no budget’ for reopening the Church Street toilets this year, though officers could look into it later.

She said, “It is not in the budget because it wasn’t prioritised over the play areas, which are in a desperate state as well. That doesn’t mean to say that we can’t ask an officer to look at the possibility.”

The toilet block is owned by Wiltshire Council but the council previously considered plans to reopen the toilets through an asset transfer in 2024. At the recent meeting, the clerk confirmed that Wiltshire Council may consider an asset transfer. She said, “It needs to be a further discussion with the council in terms of asset transfers long-term and what we are going to do and how we are going to fund them.”

Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Cllr Martin Smith, said, “In Melksham, the public toilet service provision is decided by Melksham Town Council. Any requests for additional facilities should therefore be directed to them.

“We also note that public toilets are already provided in the Market Place, which is a short walk from Church Street.”

Melksham News asked a group of elderly Melksham residents what they thought of the provision of public toilets that are available in the town centre. They made the following comments:- 

“With the rising number of new homes being built in Melksham, the need for public toilets in the town is imperative. Many of these homes are occupied by families with young children and baby changing facilities are also needed.”   

“Toilets in King George playing field car park and Church Street are facilities that are boarded up but wasted facilities. The ones in the Market Place are open, but not fit for use.”

“We need all the town toilet facilities to be open – Lowbourne park, Church Street and the Market Place. Being open 24 hours would be good.”

“There is a distinct lack of decent toilets in the town. It is quite a long walk to the campus, especially if you are elderly like me and my husband. The toilets near the town hall are disgusting, old and dirty.”

“We could do with proper toilets next to King George V park. The children could use them while playing in the park.”

“I have never used toilet facilities in Melksham town centre – they seem few and far between! I go for a coffee and use their inhouse facilities which can be expensive.”

“With the amount of elderly residents now in Melksham, to only have two public toilets open is not enough. Please open and repair the ones that are currently closed.”

“Why does the town council waste money and time thinking of getting wooden planter tubs which will get vandalised, along with lights over the bridge, when local townspeople want to have somewhere to spend a penny? Especially when the facility is already available.”