Richmond Town Council is to discuss a plan to reopen the Market Place toilets.

The men's and women's toilets were shut at the beginning of the month in a cost-cutting exercise by Richmondshire District Council.

The move has proved unpopular with traders and community leaders in the town who have told how several elderly shoppers have wet themselves because they were unable to reach alternative facilities outside the Market Place.

Kathy Thompson, manager of Edinburgh Woollen Mill, said people were using its toilets because they were too desperate to walk to the conveniences in Victoria Road.

She said: "We need these toilets or people will stop visiting Richmond."

In response to the anger over the closures, district councillor Paul Cullen has put together a plan to reopen the toilets, which he has passed to the town council.

He said: "This is a terrible indictment of how we treat both our visitors and residents."

Coun Cullen's plan is for the town council to take on responsibility for the facilities and reopen the toilets for a minimum of six months.

The move, which he believes would cost about £2,000, would give the town council the chance to put together long-term funding plans.

The proposal has been passed to Richmond mayor Russell Lord.

He said: "If the figures are correct, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, I personally believe this could be a good investment for the town council."

The town council is due to discuss the idea at a meeting on Monday.

* See Letters to the Editor, page 21