Add a loo – take one away

Above: Park Green toilets will almost certainly close when the new facilities in the indoor market open.

It’s a been a good few years since Macclesfield folk had a town centre toilet.

For that time most people relied on Marks & Spencer’s convenient convenience – but that went when the store closed in November 2022.

But, a toilet facility should soon be available for shoppers to use – in the shape of an upgrade to the toilets in Macclesfield indoor market, currently only available to traders.

Work is expected to begin in early summer with improvements to the existing toilets, with an additional unisex toilet/baby changing facility.

However, the planned conveniences could come at a cost of losing the ones on Park Green – which have been earmarked for closure to save money.

Quite what the drinkers in this bar-saturated area of the town will do, when the need takes them, one can only guess.

Averil Goodier, CEO of Macclesfield’s Disability Information Bureau, in Pierce Street, said: “The Disability Information Bureau has been championing and striving to gain funding for several years on behalf of the disabled community to have access to a Changing Places Toilet and it was excellent news to be involved with the funding opportunity that was submitted by Cheshire East Council.  

“Changing Places will enable so many more disabled people to have the opportunity to visit the town centre and enjoy the shops and cafés with the confidence of knowing this facility is available.”

In addition to the new facilities that will be available at the indoor market, there are also accessible toilets at Shopmobility on Churchill Way.

Through funding from the Town Council, the toilets at St Michaels’s Church, next to the Town Hall, have also been made available between 10 am and 12 noon, Monday to Wednesday, and between 10 am and 3 pm, Thursday to Saturday.