LONG called for work to refurbish and reopen public toilets in Brierley Hill town centre has got underway. Work to refurbish and reopen the public toilets is being carried out as part of Dudley Council’s multimillion-pound regeneration programme taking place in the town.

The existing toilet block in Little Cottage Street is being completely refurbished with external improvements to the immediate setting around it too and work is expected to be completed by mid-summer.

Councillor, Adam Davies, who has worked with council officers, Brierley Hill Community Forum and other stakeholders to push for the investment, said: "Shoppers have long said bringing public toilets back to Brierley Hill was one of the big things they would like to see addressed in the town.

“That’s why we’ve been making the case for a number of years and, thanks to our successful funding bid to government, this ask is now being answered alongside other improvements such as the exciting refurbishment of our library.”

He added: “It’s great to see the long-awaited work finally get underway.

“Once finished, it will mean visitors to the town will no longer have to cut their shopping short when nature calls, and in turn that should be good for businesses.”

Community campaigner Wayne Little, a candidate for Brierley Hill in the May 4 local elections who is hoping to join Cllr Davies as town’s second Conservative councillor, said: “As the father of a young family myself, I know that for lots of residents, young or old, having a toilet to hand can be a simple but important factor when doing the weekly shop.

“Along with the other improvements, we hope these new and improved facilities will encourage people to shop in Brierley Hill and be a part of the regeneration which needs to have the community and local people at its heart.”