A PLAN is being drawn up to reopen town centre toilets amid reports of shoppers being 'caught short' because of the closures.

The men's and women's toilets in Richmond Market Place were shut at the beginning of the month in a cost-cutting exercise by the district council.

The move has proved unpopular with traders and community leaders in the town who said several elderly shoppers had suffered because they were unable to reach alternative facilities outside the Market Place.

Kathy Thompson, manager of the town's Edinburgh Woollen Mill store, said people were using her shop's toilets because they were too desperate to walk to the conveniences in Victoria Road.

She said: "Once our toilets were full and an elderly gentleman had an accident - that must have been very degrading for him."

"We also have pregnant women coming in asking if they can use the loos.

"We need these toilets or people will stop visiting Richmond."

Andrew Taylor, 85, of Coronation Place, Richmond, vice-chairman of the town's 65 Club, said pensioners who caught the bus in the town centre had been furious at the decision to close the toilets.

In response to the anger over the closures, Richmondshire district councillor Paul Cullen has put together a plan to reopen the toilets, which he has passed to the town council.

He said: "Richmond must have public conveniences in the Market Place. For some to walk the 200m (to Victoria Road) it must seem like a mile, particularly across cobbles and when one is desperate for the toilet.

"This is a terrible indictment of how we treat both our visitors and residents."

Coun Cullen's plan is for the town council to take on responsibility for the facilities and reopen the toilets for a minimum of six months.

The move, which the councillor believes would cost about £2,000, would give the town council the chance to put together plans for the long-term funding of the conveniences.

The proposal has been passed to Richmond mayor Russell Lord.

He said: "If the figures are correct, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, I personally believe this could be a good investment for the town council."

The town council is due to discuss the rescue package at a meeting next Monday.