New and improved toilet facilities should soon be available for shoppers to use in Macclesfield town centre. 

While of course there are plenty of places to eat and drink that have toilets, these often require you to make a purchase.

But it appears that there will be some town centre toilets available to all shoppers later this year, which could see people stay for longer in the town centre.

Cheshire East Council and Macclesfield Town Council are working together to upgrade the toilet facilities at Macclesfield Indoor Market, which are currently only available to traders, so that they can be made accessible to the public.

A transaction at Five Beans Cafe in Macclesfield Indoor Market. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Works are currently expected to begin in early summer and are due to include making improvements to the existing toilets, as well as providing a new unisex toilet/baby changing facility. 

Councillor Nick Mannion, chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, said: "This is excellent news for shoppers. There is not a statutory duty to provide public toilets, but through engagement with local ward councillors, the town council and listening to local people, we know that there have been calls for some time for improved toilets to be made available for public use in Macclesfield.

"These calls have been renewed since the closure of the town centre's Marks and Spencer store.

"We have been keen to address this issue and by upgrading the toilet facilities currently available at the indoor market, the public will have access to toilets in a convenient and primary shopping area.

M&S did have popular town centre toilets until they shut last November. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"We hope it will make people's overall shopping experience even more positive and support the town centre's vitality.

"I would like to thank Macclesfield Town Council for its support and significant financial contribution, and for working collaboratively with us to bring this project forward, for the benefit of shoppers and visitors to the town centre."

Councillor Fiona Wilson, Mayor of Macclesfield, South Macclesfield Town Councillor, and town centre and regeneration champion, said: "The town council has been listening to residents and local businesses and striving to provide toilets for public use in the town centre for many years. This has been largely hampered as the town council owns no land in the town centre.

"We are now very pleased to confirm the town council has contributed £110,000 to this project and are thrilled to have been such an integral part of providing these facilities and bringing fully accessible toilets to the town.

Macclesfield Mayor and Labour Councillor Fiona Wilson, outside Macclesfield Town Hall on Market Place. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"We are doing all we can to support local businesses and encourage visitors to the town centre through the many free events we organise – we are delighted that our long-term aim to provide toilets in the town centre is to be realised."

While there are Council-backed toilets in Macclesfield Library, many of these are upstairs, and could be deemed impractical in a bathroom emergency.

Once open, larger accessible toilets will also be available for those with disabilities, following a successful bid by Cheshire East Council to the government's Changing Places Toilet Fund.

Changing Places Toilets (CPTs) include equipment such as hoists, changing benches and privacy screens. 

While there are public toilets on Park Green, they are quite far from the majority of town centre shops at Chestergate and Mill Street. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Averil Goodier, CEO of Macclesfield's Disability Information Bureau, based 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."

"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.

Other pre-existing toilets brought to Macclesfield via the Council include the ones upstairs in Macclesfield Library, on Jordangate. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

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

Cheshire East Council will consider whether the existing public toilets at Park Green should be declared surplus on the opening of the new facility and will publicise any plans regarding these with on-site notices. 

It is possible that the Park Green loos could face closure, in the wake of this new modern offering.

Macclesfield Indoor Market traders will be contacted for comment, who may see increased trade from this news.

A sign points towards the disabled loos on Park Green. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

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