Community toilet scheme launches in Melksham

A community toilet scheme has been launched in Melksham, with local businesses offering non-customers access to their facilities.

The scheme has been launched by Melksham Town Council in partnership with local businesses to provide additional toilet facilities by welcoming anyone to use the toilets of participating organisations during normal opening hours, without being required to make a purchase.

Participating businesses include Asda Melksham Superstore on Beanacre Road; Doubles Coffee Pizza Records at Avonside Enterprise Park; Avonside Wilts at Avonside Enterprise Park; The Hiding Place on the High Street; Melksham Town Hall; Time to Stop at Verbena Court; and Melksham Community Campus.

Cllr Adrienne Westbrook, who proposed the scheme, said, “I passionately believe that as a community there must be other ways of dealing with the lack of toilets issue. Public toilets are misused and not treated with any respect by a small number of individuals. This often makes it a very unpleasant experience for the majority of residents. I was aware of this scheme and thought it must be a better alternative to the constant closure of toilets due to anti-social behaviour. I look forward to this scheme being implemented and our residents being able to use welcoming, clean toilets.”

Director of The Hiding Place, Shari O’Shaughnessy, said, “As an independent business in the heart of Melksham, we are proud to be a warm, welcoming space which supports an inclusive town.

“I understand the frustrations of a lack of accessible toilets, which is why we are happy to help expand Melksham’s network of free toilet facilities to everyone who needs to use them.”

Earlier this year, residents raised concerns about the lack of public toilet facilities in the town centre and called for the Church Street toilets to be reopened. However, Melksham Town Council said earlier that there was ‘no money’ in the budget to reopen the toilets.

Pictured: Cllr Westbrook and Dep Mayor Cllr Elson