A community toilet scheme is set to be launched in Great Harwood over the

next few weeks to encourage businesses to open their loos to town centre visitors.

Councillors have allocated £45 of area funding to create stickers which

will be placed at supporting businesses, pubs and cafes.

It comes after a drop in the number of public toilets in the town with only

the three major supermarkets, library and health centre currently available.

Each place which signs up to the scheme will receive a sticker with the

Great Harwood crest and the words 'we support the community toilet scheme'.

Special stickers will also be provided to places which provide disabled

facilities.

Members of the public will be able to use the toilets free at any place displaying the sticker without the need to make a purchase.

The Observer exclusively revealed plans for the scheme back in March.

The idea was met with opposition from some pub owners however supported by the town's regeneration board.

Ward councillor Ciaran Wells said he hopes it would boost the number of shoppers coming to the town.

Speaking at a recent area Council meeting he said: “We have got stickers

done up and we will be writing to businesses, pubs, Mercer Hall and basically any place where there's a toilet and the public can access.

“We will be asking if these places, during working hours, would be prepared to support a community toilet scheme.

“People will be able to walk around the town and when they see a sticker they know they can use their facilities.

“I'm hoping it will bring more people into the town and assure people that there is this service to use.”