£50,000 deal agreed to re-open Whitchurch loos
Public toilets in a Shropshire town which shut after becoming a magnet for vandalism, drug abuse and anti-social behaviour are to re-open – but it will cost the public purse £50,000.
The White Lion Meadow toilets in Whitchurch closed last November, leaving the town without any traditional public toilets. But now Whitchurch Town Council wants to charge people 20p to spend a penny.
At a meeting on Thursday, town councillors agreed a five-year deal worth £50,000 with contractor Healthmatic, which will be responsible for maintaining the loos.
The contract guarantees a daily visit from a cleaner, who will ensure the toilets are empty before closing them at the end of each day.
In the past, there were problems with people getting into the toilets when they were closed and causing damage inside.
Income
Under the new deal, time locks will be installed to keep new heavy duty doors locked out of hours.
Coin-operated locks will be fitted too, and the meeting heard the council has forecast an annual income of about £3,500 from the loos.
Opening hours would be 8am to 6pm, and 8am to 4.30pm during winter.
Councillor Alan Chesters said: "I think it's something we should be providing in the town."
Councillor Alistair Young said: "Forgive my scepticism, but what's to stop us facing the same problems with vandalism and drugs that we had before?"
But a majority of councillors said they were satisfied that measures being taken under the new deal would prevent a repeat of the vandalism experienced before.
The town council took over the toilets in April.
