Frome Town Council is partnering with the Cheese and Grain venue to improve public toilet facilities in the town centre. As the Market Yard toilets near the end of their usability, the council will fund the Cheese and Grain to maintain and clean their accessible Changing Places cubicle and provide open public access to their existing toilets.
This initiative guarantees continuous availability of public toilets through the Cheese and Grain, allowing the council time to strategize long-term improvements for the wider area.
The Changing Places toilet, a fully accessible facility installed in 2018, will remain open and well-maintained by Cheese and Grain staff, who already manage their onsite facilities to a high standard.
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With the upcoming closure of the Market Yard toilets, clear signage will guide visitors to the Cheese and Grain facilities. Meanwhile, future plans to repurpose the Market Yard toilet block and adjacent spaces outside the library will involve community input as part of a larger vision for the Riverside area. These plans align with Somerset’s devolution of responsibilities, as the council evaluates local asset and service management.
Councillor Steve Tanner emphasized the importance of accessible toilets in the town centre: “This arrangement with Cheese and Grain ensures that facilities will be open all day, every day. It’s a practical solution addressing the inadequacy of the current facilities and supports both residents and visitors.” He added that opting for this higher-quality short-term solution allows time for a strategic approach to the town’s future needs.
To accommodate larger events like The Frome Independent and The Children’s Festival, the council has allocated a dedicated budget to provide additional temporary toilet facilities.
Steve Macarthur from Cheese and Grain expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “Cheese and Grain has always been central to Frome’s cultural life. We’re proud to support this practical and sustainable approach to meeting the town’s needs and look forward to contributing to future developments.”
The new arrangement will take effect from 1st September, accompanied by clear signage directing the public to the Cheese and Grain toilets.
Additionally, the town’s ‘You’re Welcome’ scheme continues to offer access to toilets in various cafés, pubs, and venues without any purchase requirement.
The decision was finalized during the Operations and Assets committee meeting held on Wednesday, 23rd July, which can be viewed on the Frome Town Council YouTube channel.