'Unsafe' underground toilets to close after attacks

Councillor Victoria Charleston said the council wants to offer "something better"

Two "unsafe" public toilets in a city centre are set to close so a local authority can save money.

Salisbury City Council agreed at a full council meeting on Monday to shut Central Car Park and Market Square toilets.

Concerns were also cited over the £100,000 annual maintenance fee and safety of the blocks, particularly of the underground Market Square facility.

Councillor Victoria Charleston said the Market Square toilets are "not safe" following reports of sexual assaults and deaths in the underground block, with three incidents of arson since 2021.

She added: "I get that people are unhappy, people do not like change, but we want to support to people and offer Salisbury something better."

Drug taking is a "continual issue" in the toilets, with concerns people become vulnerable when they are down the stairs and "out of sight", she added.

"The best thing to do with these Market Square toilets right now is to close them to the public."

However, the facilities will remain open to market traders on event days.

The Central Car Park toilets are also set to close

After the two toilets close, there will be seven left in the city.

Two of the city's toilets, Coach Park and Lush House Car Park, are within a 10-minute walk of each other.

Graham Brown is a market vendor in the city

Graham Brown, a market vendor, said he is concerned the closures will have a "ripple effect" on the city and discourage people from coming out to shop.

"Everybody has to use it, so why are the loos the first place to be shut to save a few bob?

He added: "If you're new to Salisbury, you won't know where to go. It's not very good."

Closing the Market Square toilets is the "best thing", said Ms Charleston

Ms Charleston said: "I realise this has caused problems for people and there are concerns, but we're going to do our very best to mitigate that, as well as have a plan for long term refurbishment of these particular toilets."

She added that the council welcomes conversations with local business owners who may be affected by the closure.