New town centre toilets open at Bridgend Indoor Market

New public toilets, complete with baby-changing facilities and wheelchair access, have opened at Bridgend Indoor Market.

The toilets have been provided as part of a Bridgend County Borough Council scheme to regenerate the indoor market, and are the results of a partnership with the Market Traders Association, Bridgend Town Council and Colliers, who are the owners of the Rhiw shopping centre.

Located near the rear entrance on the site of two empty stalls, the toilets cost 30p to use which is reinvested into their upkeep and general maintenance.

Councillor Dr Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, said: “The new toilets have been provided as part of a £25,000 development package that the council set up with indoor market traders, as well as £10,000 from Bridgend Town Council, £7,550 from the Market Traders Association and a £1,000 contribution from Colliers.

“As part of the arrangement, the market traders will manage and operate the facilities while the council funds the cleaning of the toilets. They are the latest new feature to be developed at the indoor market following the introduction of a new central square, which can be used to help attract customers by staging specialist events such as craft fayres and family entertainment as well as customer seating, as a children’s play area and more.

“The council is further supporting market traders by providing a new rent system with concessionary rates, flexible lease terms and significant rent reductions, a ‘shop local’ publicity package and a fresh new look which includes a series of illustrative panels featuring the market’s rich history, and a prominent new home for the historic 1837 market bell.”