Public toilets in Wem which have remained closed for four years will re-open if civic leaders can secure a funding deal with Arriva Trains Wales.
Wem town councillors have met with Network Rail bosses regarding the recreation ground toilets, and put forward a sponsorship suggestion which would involve Arriva paying for half the cost of opening the facility.
The dispute has raged ever since the former North Shropshire District Council, who owned the building, shut down the toilets in a cost-cutting measure claiming only one set of toilets was needed in the town.
The town council, which owns the surrounding recreation ground land, felt it crucial that the toilets which lie next to the train station stayed open – as the only other toilets are a 10 minute walk away.
But after deciding that they couldn’t afford to pay for the toilet building, ownership of the public convenience transferred to Shropshire Council and the toilets have remained closed ever since.
Leading figures in the town have called for the toilets to be re-opened for years as they feel the lack of amenities near to the station is affecting tourism.
Councillor Pauline Dee, who is also on Wem Town Council, said: “We have been desperately trying to get these toilets opened for years as it’s a facility that everybody uses and it’s important that we have proper facilities because it must surely deter people from coming off the trains.”
Councillor Chris Mellings said: “We had meetings with council officers at the end of January about their countywide review of public toilets and we hope that they finally recognise the need to re-open them as it’s crucially important.
“It would be fantastic to secure some funding from Arriva to help solve this situation but to be honest we feel we have already pumped a lot of money into Wem to keep the swimming pool open after it was closed.
“We will be looking to persuade Shropshire Council to sort this out.”
Victoria Ashmore, Shropshire Council’s street scene manager for north-east Shropshire, said: “The Wem recreation ground toilets are currently being considered as part of our county public toilets consultation.
“We encourage people to contact us on 0345 678 9006 to let us know their thoughts, although this consultation may not mean the toilets are re-opened.”
By David Seadon
