THE NEW £130,000 public toilets in Fish Hill, Royston, are finally open. The new toilets, adjacent to Priory Memorial Gardens, were due to come into use in October, but a series of problems, first with the electrical wiring, then with the supply of tiles

THE NEW £130,000 public toilets in Fish Hill, Royston, are finally open.

The new toilets, adjacent to Priory Memorial Gardens, were due to come into use in October, but a series of problems, first with the electrical wiring, then with the supply of tiles, meant they have remained closed.

Steve Crowley, project manager at North Herts District Council, explained: "We sourced the tiles from an Italian company, but they ran out of stock, which is what has caused this delay.

"But the toilets are open now and I'm sure they will be an excellent facility for Royston - they are beautifully placed for the town centre," he said.

Councillor F John Smith, leader of North Herts District Council, attended the opening ceremony on Friday, together with Cllr Lynda Needham, portfolio holder for the environment, and Cllr Fiona Hill, chairman of the district council's Royston area committee.

Cllr Needham said: "At a time when most council's are closing public toilets, I am delighted that we are reinvesting in ours, because they are a useful facility for visitors to the town.

"The unisex layout may be unfamiliar at first, but it is proven to reduce anti-social behaviour. I hope people will use them more, and thus be able to spend more time in the town centre, which will benefit Royston," she said.