The innovative Frome scheme where local coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and pubs welcome the public in to use their toilets has hit the news again. Outgoing Mayor Peter Macfadyen was recently featured on BBC Points West discussing the scheme alongside the new ‘Mayors Chains’ photographic exhibition at Black Swan Arts that came to a close last weekend.
Almost a year ago Peter Macfadyen spearheaded a campaign to encourage businesses to open their toilets for public use following the closure of toilets in the town by Mendip District Council. Since then Café La Strada, Paccamora, Costa Coffee, Crocker & Woods, The George Hotel, Black Swan Arts, The Old Bath Arms, The Cheese & Grain and Frome Town Council’s office have made their toilets available to the public. Look out for the toilet scheme logo in windows highlighting that the establishment/venue is part of the scheme.
More recently other councils have been in touch with Frome Town Council as they consider setting up their own versions of the scheme. Many towns saw the closure of public toilets during recent cutbacks.The support from business owners Frome continues to be very positive and now almost a year later the town is seen as leading the way with its community toilet scheme.
The Toilet Scheme was promoted by the well known Mayoral Chains project in which local organisations created alternative chains based on efforts made in the town, one specifically for the Frome Community Toilet Scheme. The chains highlighted a handful of the many community groups and organisations within Frome. If you have a business and you would like to offer your premises as part of the scheme please get in touch with Brookesm@frometowncouncil.gov.uk
