Machynlleth Town Council has applied for funding to renovate the town’s public toilets following a lengthy closure.

The town council announced that their working group devoted to re-opening Machynlleth’s public toilets revealed that they had submitted an application to the Community Regeneration Fund for redeveloping the facilities.

The application was supported by public feedback the council received when the council asked residents to make their voices heard over the future of the public restrooms.

The toilets have been closed since January 2023, but the council’s working group has been carrying out research to gage how many people frequently use the facilities which has gone into the bid for funding to re-open them.

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As the increasing cost of repairs, upkeep and maintenance added up, the keys were handed back to Powys Council by Machynlleth which was facing bills of £25,000 for their upkeep, which did not include the cost of repairs in the event of vandalism.

To reduce the risk of vandalism, the council’s proposed upgrade of the facilities included measures such as new metal doors to protect the building from damage.

Residents were asked how frequently they use Machynlleth’s toilets, whether their closure has impacted them and if they would welcome the transfer of ownership and management of the public toilet block to a local organisation.

In regards to eventually re-opening the facilities, former town clerk Dewi Jones has said: “We are very aware of what a blow this is to the town and the need for there to be clean and accessible public toilets, particularly to attract tourists and to provide a much needed facility during market day.

“We would like to invite the ideas and suggestions of the community to explore ways that we can try and keep the toilets open.”