Councillor slams Wigan Council over closed toilets at town centre shopping complex

He said having toilets available in the town centre was a “basic necessity” and feared residents who needed to spend a penny would be deterred from going to that area, hindering businesses’ and market traders’ recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council said it was hoping that all the toilets in The Galleries would be open again this week.

Coun Maiden said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful. I’ve seen mums with young kids and elderly people not able to go to the toilet.

“Having toilets open is not negotiable. We’re trying to keep the market going and people coming in, but I’ve been told pensioners aren’t having a cup of coffee because they can’t go to the toilet.

“Then there are people with health conditions like kidney disorders who need to be able to go the toilet.

“There’s just no plausible excuse for them not to be open, especially when we’re trying to get the markets back up and trading.

“Toilets are a public health necessity.”

Penny McGinty, assistant director for corporate contracts and assets at the council, said: “As we look to recover from Covid-19, we have a robust strategy in place to reopen our high streets and public spaces following risk assessments. This includes working with retailers and The Galleries management team.

“The disabled toilets in The Galleries were recently re-opened and we have also opened public toilets in four of our borough’s town centres.

“In light of the recent updates to government guidance we asked The Galleries to review whether more of the public toilets can be opened and it is now intended to open them within the week.

“Public health is one of our key priorities, and while we understand that access to public toilets is important, they can only be re-opened when it is safe to do so.

“We continue to thank the public for their cooperation during this time and encourage our town centre visitors to observe Covid-19 guidelines to minimise transmission risks.”