Some of Stroud’s public toilets have reopened - and they will soon have bins for needles. 

The toilets on Bedford Street were shut last month by Stroud District Council after cleaning staff found drug paraphernalia left in the cubicles.

Now two of the nine cubicles are back open as of Tuesday and the council has announced sharps boxes, which allow for the safe disposal of needles, are on the way.

New signs have also been left on their doors warning that if the cubicle is used for anything “other than its intended purpose, it may be closed.”

They provide the number for the council’s customer services department for reporting incidents: 01453 766321

Stroud News and Journal:

After it closed the Bedford Street toilets, the district council also closed those in the Subscription Rooms along with the venue’s cafe, again pointing to drug users taking to the facilities.

An emergency meeting was then held by the district council along with its town counterpart, police, MP David Drew and support groups to come up with a solution to Stroud’s toilet troubles, as well as to address wider concerns of anti-social behaviour in the town.

The district council has not given a date for when the rest of the toilets will reopen but it has emphasised the closures are temporary.

Stroud News and Journal:

“The decision to temporarily close the Bedford Street toilets was not taken lightly but was necessary to protect the public and cleaning staff," said councillor Mattie Ross, who oversees the council's community services.

“We recognise how important it is to have safe and clean toilet facilities. I am pleased that we have been able to provide a service again.”

The council has also stressed it is taking a "multi-agency approach" to stop people taking drugs in public toilets, including through work with police.

Stroud Inspector Sarah Blake said: “Stroud in general is a safe place but an issue has been identified which does need attention.

"It needs a multi-agency approach to solve it and we want to be able to open those toilets back up, however we want to know it’s going to be safe when they are.

“This isn’t something which can be solved overnight but we are working on this issue with our partners and we understand the concern this has caused.

"If you see something in the area which you are concerned by, such as drugs paraphernalia, please do report this to police by either calling 101 or by submitting information through our website.”