Residents vote to scrap toilets
PRESTBURY residents have voted to turn the former public toilets site at Bridge Green into a car park.
After a public consultation last month giving people the option of either reopening the toilets, demolishing them and keeping the area as an open space or using the site as a car park, almost three quarters of respondents have given the car park idea the thumbs up.
The results of the poll were announced at the Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, August 9, after the council said an independent audit of the count had taken place.
Around 37 per cent of those eligible to vote did so, with 977 responses received, out of which 705, around 72pc, opted for a car park.
Demolishing the toilets and keeping the area as an open space notched up 73 votes, at around 7.5pc, while those voting to keep the toilets and have a small car park numbered 199, around 20pc.
Chairman of Prestbury Parish Council, Arthur Dicken, said the council was pleased with the result. He said: “The Parish Council were pleased such a high proportion of people voted, with almost 1,000 taking part. They noted almost three out every four votes cast were in favour of the development of the site as a landscaped car park.”
He added that the council would now submit a planning application for the development.
But not everyone was happy with the outcome. Public toilets campaigner and Prestbury lollipop lady, Heidi Altounyan, said: “I’m very surprised and disappointed and just feel very angry.
“Most people I’ve spoken to are against getting rid of the loos. The best idea would have been to reopen them and have a small car park as well.
“All the public toilets in Macclesfield are shutting down, it’s disgusting.”