A SCHEME which would provide the public with more toilets in Minehead could be in operation this year.

Discussions have begun into the feasibility of a community toilet scheme in which cafés, shops, restaurants, pubs and other businesses would let the public to use their toilets free of charge during their opening hours.

Residents and visitors would look for the toilet scheme logo in windows in the town and would be under no obligation to buy anything after using the facilities.

Cllr Maureen Smith of Minehead Town Council’s public convenience advisory group said this week that the project was still in the discussion stage but community toilets had been so successful in other towns that it was worth serious consideration.

In some north Somerset towns, the scheme has become so popular that limits have been put on the number of participants, and the use of toilets had been shown to significantly increase footfall and sales.

Cllr Smith said it was hoped to organise a public consultation next month when residents and visitors could learn how a scheme would operate.

What would happen next would depend on the public response, but if it was favourable there would be further discussions and it was possible that the scheme could go into operation “fairly quickly – perhaps even this year”.

For the full story, buy this week’s Free Press (January 4).