PLANS to close two public toilets in Salisbury as part of cost-cutting measures have been described by the deputy mayor as “actively hostile to local businesses”.

The 2025/26 budget, which was approved at a meeting of the council on Monday (January 13) will see the closure of the toilets at the Central Car Park and the Market Place in a move to save up to £100,000 a year.

However, the disabled toilets in the Market Place will stay open for all.

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The city’s precept – what residents pay the town council to run services – will rise by 4.99%, which for Band D households works out at an additional £18.15 a year.

A temporary stage in the Market Square will also be constructed on a six-week trial basis as the council works out the feasibility of a permanent structure, costing £20,000.

Also included in the budget was £300,000 to repair the walls at Wyndham Park, a £230,000 investment into solar panels at the council’s Tollgate Depot, £250,000 for ‘job evaluation results’, a 25% increase in allotment prices, £10,000 for the purchase of an ice cream van, the creation of an internal Guildhall bar for £10,000 and a new MELA multicultural event costing £5,000.

The administration group leader of the council, councillor Victoria Charleston, said the budget is prudent, responsible, and sensible – with a focus on environmental commitments.

However, cllr Ed Rimmer, who defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK in June last year, claims the move to close public conveniences will result in people visiting bars and pubs to use their toilets without spending money.

“The Labour/Lib Dem/Independent administration of Salisbury City Council approved a budget which treated residents’ money with contempt and was actively hostile to local businesses,” he said.

“Instead of providing toilets in the market square and the central car park, the city council will now run its own bars, annually celebrate multiculturalism, and in a move that is almost unbelievable in its absurdity, buy its own ice cream van.

“A spokesman for the fantastic local business the Chickpea Group and the City’s Pubwatch scheme [told me], ‘To expect hospitality and retail venues to bear the brunt of the provision of public loos is yet another example of a poor decision that leads to poor visitor experience and unnecessary pressure on permanent Market Square tenants.’

Cllr Victoria Charleston said the budget would help support the “ambitious” range of services in the city Picture: Salisbury City Council

He added: “The administration then went on to approve a budget which squandered that which was saved by closing the toilets on frivolous spending.

“When I reminded the administration that we are a parish council and there are very few things that we really should be doing and mentioned the frankly absurd decision of a city council who have lost £800,000 over the past two years to buy an ice cream van, I received a sarcastic response and no further discussion.

“The entire £100,000 “saved” by closing the central car park and Market Square toilets was squandered on, among other things: a £20,000 six-week trial of a stage for the square, £5,000 on a “celebration of multiculturalism”, £10,000 on the ice cream van, £13,000 on a mobile bar and £250,000 on mysterious ‘job evaluation results’.

“Not content with closing the toilets, the administration saw fit to buy a mobile bar for the market square, competing with local pubs and businesses and to actually directly close down opportunities for local businesses by cancelling Foodie Sundays and the Street Sellers Markets.”

In response to cllr Rimmer’s concerns over the budget, cllr Victoria Charleston, implored Salisbury Reform UK to submit their own budget next year rather than “criticising from the sidelines.”

“Setting a budget requires balancing services that residents want with a price they are happy to pay,” she said.

“The Salisbury City Council budget achieves this for 25/26. This budget continues the work of this administration.

“It is prudent, responsible, and sensible. Over the last four years Liberal Democrats, in partnership with Labour and an Independent councillor, have focussed on our environmental commitments, introducing recycling bins, electric vehicles, and an ambitious £230k investment in solar energy next year.

“We have fostered a lively city in partnership with businesses: a calendar of events and support for our arts. We have ensured a clean and tidy city: well maintained parks and playgrounds, clean streets, and pocket parks.

“Salisbury City Council is one of the largest parishes in the country and we offer an ambitious range of services that reflect the ambitions of our residents for our city.

“I welcome Reform submitting their own budget next year rather than criticising from the sidelines.”

In response, the chairman of Salisbury Reform UK, Byron Logue, said: “Cllr Charleston’s failure to provide a real response to Cllr Rimmer’s legitimate criticism is somewhat surprising.

“She appears to believe that he is alone in his views and that the budget has not been widely criticized by local pubs, bars, shops, community organisations and residents.

“As to cllr Charleston suggestion, Reform UK isn’t in the business of spending hundreds of man hours on a fruitless endeavour with no hope of being passed.

“We prefer to concentrate our efforts on addressing issues that matter to our community.

“For example, why it costs £58,000 a year to clean one public toilet or what the council means by ‘job evaluation results’ and why they allocated £250,000 toward it.”