Frome Town Council (FTC) has agreed next steps towards public toilet provision in Market Yard at its 22 April council meeting.
FTC took on the Market Yard toilets in 2024 when they faced closure by Somerset Council, recognising their importance as a central public facility. However, ageing infrastructure, high maintenance costs and issues with persistent vandalism led to the closure of the block in 2025, while options for its future were explored. This includes an ongoing interim arrangement for the Cheese and Grain to open its toilets to the public and to clean and maintain the Changing Places cubicle, accessible only by radar key and the only facility in operation in the Market Yard block.
FTC heard from more than 500 residents and visitors via the My Frome platform, in-person events and other sources, who were asked for their preferred option of four possibilities: refurbishing the existing units; a complete rebuild of the toilets; reimagining the space and incorporating another element, such as an attended tourist information point or shop; or expanding the existing You’re Welcome scheme, so that more venues and cafes open their toilets to the public, and leaving the block closed.
The most popular option from the engagement was a ‘reimagined space’, with the potential for a concession or attended information point alongside the toilets to mitigate problems with anti-social behaviour. Three quarters of respondents favoured centrally located, public toilet provision over the extension of the You’re Welcome scheme. Any work on the Market Yard block is subject to negotiating a long-term lease with Somerset Council, to make significant investment an option.
Cllr Nick Dove said: “There is strong agreement that we need to restore high-quality, central toilet provision, but it’s equally important that we take the time to get this right. In the first instance, it’s vital to secure a long lease from Somerset Council to protect any local investment. This is an opportunity not just to replace what was there before, but to create something that works better for the whole community and fits into a wider vision for the riverside area.”
A new Riverside Advisory Group will be established to guide this work, considering both immediate toilet provision and the longer-term potential of the wider Market Yard and riverside area. Follow the project and other FTC projects at myfrome.co.uk
