Last public toilets in Whitchurch close

Public toilets in Whitchurch have been shut after becoming a magnet for vandalism, drug abuse and anti-social behaviour.

The closure of the White Lion Meadow toilets means shoppers and visitors will have to use shops, cafes or the civic centre when nature calls.

It follows concerns about a rising tide of anti-social behaviour at the toilets. Town chiefs say maintenance costs have also soared.

The toilets are owned by Shropshire Council but since April have been operated by the town council under an interim deal.

The Shirehall said it would shut public toilets unless town and parish councils stepped in to take them over.

Councillor Peggy Mullock, mayor of Whitchurch and Shropshire Council member for Whitchurch North, today said the move was partly prompted by uncertainty over Tesco's plans to redevelop its store in White Lion Meadow.

She said it would have been unwise to spend public money on maintaining the vandal-hit toilets when they could well be demolished in future should Tesco's proposed redevelopment take place.

She said: "The public conveniences have been closed.

"There were increasing levels of vandalism and increasing instances of anti-social behaviour."