Dereham Town Council has agreed in principle to develop a community toilet scheme for the town.

Dereham has just one set of public toilets, located at Barwell Court, just off the town’s market place.

Last month saw the demolition of a second set of toilets at the Cowper Road car park, which had been closed since 2008.

In a community toilet scheme, businesses and council-owned buildings allow the public use of their toilets, sometimes in exchange for an annual fee from the council.

Dereham Times: aboutDereham chair Mike Webb explains the idea at a meeting of Dereham Town CouncilaboutDereham chair Mike Webb explains the idea at a meeting of Dereham Town Council (Image: Archant)

The idea was initially looked into by a working group of the aboutDereham partnership and town council members, who were inspired by hearing about such a scheme in Kendal, Cumbria.

The cost of the Kendal scheme is £8,500 a year, including staffing, so the cost for Dereham is unlikely to be more than £5,000 a year, the aboutDereham group have said.

Subject to certain enquiries about the scheme’s practicality, the council voted by majority to develop the plan.