Vandalism could force closure of Market Drayton toilets
Public toilets next to Market Drayton's newly refurbished skate park could be forced to close if they continue to be vandalised.
The warning comes after a gang of youths used their bikes to ride up the walls and doors of the female toilets near Market Drayton's swimming pool.
The damage was caused on Saturday when lots of youngsters were using the town's new skate park, which lies on the same site.
It also happened just days before work was due to start on refurbishing the toilets to make them safer.
Market Drayton Town Council said it is fed up with the Newport Road toilets being vandalised, and has warned people they could be shut to the public.
Last year extensive graffiti was found in the men’s toilets.
Julie Jones, clerk of Market Drayton Town Council, said: "The skate park is open, it is fantastic, and at the weekend it was very busy down there.
"But unfortunately when we had a bad rain shower on Saturday a gang of lads used their bikes to run up the walls and doors in the ladies.
"We must ask people to respect the toilets. If they are constantly vandalised and we have another situation like this one we might have to close them and we don't want to do that.
"It is a shame, but yet again it is a few spoiling it for the many.
"This week work will hopefully start on removing the outside wall, so effectively the corridor, so people have no where to hide so to speak and make them safer. Hopefully work be will be complete in two weeks."
The town council is due to speak about the Newport Road toilets as well as the ones at the town hall in Frogmore Road at its meeting tonight.
The Frogmore Road toilets were closed in August 2015 when a fire in the disabled toilet spread and caused damage to the walls, light fixtures and fittings.
The town council was originally looking to install a new standalone toilet block, situated adjacent to the town hall, but that scheme now looks "unlikely", Mrs Jones said.
"We have had some problems with not yet knowing what services we are taking on from Shropshire Council," she added.
Earlier this year the council revealed it was to invest £91,800 in the town's public toilets, which formed part of the authority's proposed budget.
Tonight's meeting of the council's services and facilities committee will take place in the town hall at 7.30pm.
