THE TOWN council is set to commit to building new public toilets in Woodley, its leader has said.

Councillor Keith Baker made the comments after results from a public survey showed 62.9 per cent of neighbours visited said they want new loos in the town-centre.

"I am true to my word," said Cllr Baker.

"I promised that if it was obvious people wanted them [new toilets] then we would continue it."

A debate amongst politicians and neighbours erupted last year after the Woodley Liberal Democrats claimed to have submitted a petition to the borough council to build new loos in the town centre.

Campaigners from the Woodley Labour Party had already submitted a petition, receiving around 1500 signatures, after the old toilets in Headley Road car park were shut down in 2013.

Town councillors were set to go ahead with the project, which would be funded by £100,000 in developers' contributions, set aside from the Sandford Farm development.

In the meantime a local loo scheme was set up, which allowed shoppers to use amenities in various shops and pubs in Woodley, without buying any goods.

Cllr Baker then demanded the Liberal Democrats prove they submitted the petition, after staff at the borough council said they could not find it.

He said without the petition Wokingham Borough and Woodley Town council could not be sure people wanted the money spent on the public convenience. The leader also said the money could be well spent on Woodford Park instead.

Following the row, the town council organised a public survey, both online and door-to-door. Marketers knocked on residents' doors in September asking them where they think the money would be best spent.

The results show that 62.9 per cent of people surveyed said they wanted to see a new stand alone public toilet facility in Woodley.

In a report prepared for councillors, it read: "It is notable that even those who wanted a new toilet to be provided frequently commented that the proposed facilities would prove an expensive option.

"There was some opposition to paying for a public toilet, especially if it is not visibly attended by a cleaner."

The toilets have been earmarked to be built in the Crockhamwell Road car park, close to Waitrose.

It is believed the town council will have to pay the borough £5,000 to make up for the parking spaces the toilets will sit on.

Cllr Baker added: "We need to complete the agreement with Wokingham Borough Council over the loss of its two parking spaces.

"Then we need to get planning permission."