Wiltshire Council has agreed to move forward with plans to transfer the Salisbury Central Car Park public toilets to Salisbury City Council, in a move that could see the facilities reopened to the public.

The toilets, which have been closed since March 2024, have been the subject of ongoing public concern, with residents and visitors raising worries about the lack of accessible public facilities in Salisbury city centre. More than 3,000 people signed petitions calling for both the Central Car Park and Market Place toilets to reopen.

The decision was approved during a Wiltshire Council cabinet meeting, where the site was declared surplus and cleared for a possible asset transfer to Salisbury City Council. However, the transfer will still need to be formally approved by the city council before it can be completed.

City councillors have previously discussed bringing the toilet block back under local control, with leaders saying discussions with Wiltshire Council had made “significant progress.” The facilities include disabled access, baby changing areas and nearby Blue Badge parking, making them particularly important for visitors and residents with accessibility needs.

Once the transfer is completed, Salisbury City Council will assess the condition of the building and consider the ongoing costs for cleaning, maintenance and staffing before deciding on reopening dates.

The move comes amid wider discussions about public toilet provision across Salisbury, including recent efforts to partially reopen the Market Place underground toilets on selected days.