The administration’s draft Budget proposes shutting the Central Car Park toilets and the underground Market Place conveniences in 2025/26.
The more modern disabled facility in Market Place would stay open.
The closures would create annual savings of £108,725 in cleaning fees and £5,000 from the ‘reduced costs in toilets’.
But members of the opposing Conservative group – which only suggested closing the Market Place loos, saving £58,725 a year – criticised the planned cuts.
The proposals were discussed at a meeting of the Finance and Governance Committee on Monday, January 6, a year after the council said it had “no intention” of closing the Market Place toilets.
Councillor Victoria Charleston, the Liberal Democrats’ administration group leader, hopes the toilet closures would not be permanent.
Closing the facilities would save £108,725 in cleaning fees (Image: Newsquest) At the meeting, councillors examined two Budget and medium-term plans: one from the administration, and one from the Conservatives.
The administration’s Budget was voted through with two amendments and will be considered at a full council meeting on Monday, January 13.
It would see a probable council tax increase of 4.99 per cent for a Band D property: a rise of £18.15 per year, or 35p a week.
Conservative councillor Jeremy Nettle described the administration’s Budget as “business as usual”, asking: “What’s new? What can residents look forward to?”
Finance and Governance Committee members discussed the Budget proposals on Monday night (Image: Newsquest) He added: “I think closing toilets needs to be looked at in great detail.
“The proposal of closing the Central Car Park toilets, which have probably been voted the best in Salisbury, is not the right thing to do.
“We looked at closing the Market Place toilets. They are not fit for purpose and have certainly not been voted the best of anything – perhaps only as the oldest toilets.
“They are not very convenient – sorry for the pun – and if you have been in them, you would never go again.”
Artist Krishna Malla painted five murals on the Central Car Park public toilets in May (Image: Michael Illas) Cllr Charleston said she takes the Conservatives’ ‘business as usual’ claim as a compliment.
“This Budget seeks to continue the work of this administration,” she said.
“It is realistic, prudent and sensible.
“It continues all current services and enhances some. We present grown-up and sensible plans for the next five years.”
She described the Market Place toilets as ‘leaking’ and ‘unsafe’.
Victoria Charleston and Jeremy Nettle (Image: Salisbury City Council)
“We have had deaths down there, we have had assaults down there,” she said.
“We spoke to officers about alternatives, such as using business toilets and supporting their services.
“There are mutterings around the council about refurbishing the toilets but we are being sensible with our money.”
The administration’s Budget includes several investment projects, such installing solar panels at the city council’s Tollgate Road depot to later save on utilities.
The Conservatives outlined three key schemes in their Budget to “give residents a bit of hope”.
They were plans to spend £350,000 to “raise and protect” the Churchill Gardens car park to make it more commercially viable, install a multi-use artificial pitch in the Bemerton area at a cost of £350,000 and invest £250,000 in a splash park.
The Conservatives also proposed cutting annual £63,000 grants to the Salisbury Museum and Playhouse and revoking community grants worth £25,000 for one year.
The meeting took place at the Guildhall on Monday evening (Image: Newsquest) Their proposals were ultimately voted down, but two of their ideas were voted into the administration’s draft Budget as amendments.
They are to consider building a stage in Market Square as a “multi-use communal facility” on a six-week trial basis at a cost of £20,000 to “assess feasibility of a permanent structure”, and to set aside £6,000 per year for improved public consultation on political decisions.
Mayor Sven Hocking said he ‘completely agrees’ with shutting the Market Place toilets, adding: “We should fill them in with concrete and put something on top.
“A stage, perhaps.”