The demand for public toilets at Chepstow bus station seems to be coming to fruition, after the town council made space for it in their annual budget.

The amount paid by Chepstow council tax payers to the town council will increase by more than a third from April, which will give the council a budget of £264,520. From every pound spent, 7p will meet the cost of providing the public toilet at the bus station.

Sandra Bushell, the clerk of Chepstow town council, said: "We have raised our budget so we can improve services in the town and create a nicer and cleaner environment.

"From that budget we have assigned £20,000 to go towards providing a public toilet in the town.

"It is not known exactly how much the toilet will cost yet, but we hope that £20,000 should be enough.

"It is important that we have this commitment to eventually build the toilet and that these services are provided to make our town better.

"We are always trying to improve the services in the town and we are also looking to bring in a litter picker."

An appeal for a public toilet in the area - backed by the Free Press - was first voiced five years ago when businesses in the town and the Methodist church complained about people relieving themselves outside their premises.

The problems mainly came from drunk revellers who had just left local night-spots.

In 2001, the Minister of the Methodist Church Rev Graeme Halls said: "Our church is being used as a toilet, mainly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

"This is not pleasant, especially when people turn up to use the church and find their way blocked by such a deposit."