The public toilets are still not open in Didcot’s Orchard Centre and residents are concerned about the ‘spectacle of people urinating’ outside and around the shopping area.

Despite businesses such as cafe’s and shops opening, the Orchard Centre did not open its public toilets because the space is too small to accommodate for social distancing.

Patricia Morton lives in Ladycroft, Blewbury near Didcot and she was shocked to see that young women had taken to urinating outside the shopping centre.

She said: “There has been the spectacle of people urinating (and worse) around the Orchard Centre, including a number of young women.

“It should be a condition that when the shops and other businesses in the Orchard Centre open, the public toilets there must also be available.

“This is a situation that needs remedying fast.”

Read also: Village could lose three popular businesses

Ms Morton also highlighted that in other towns across Oxfordshire, councils ensured public toilets remained open throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

She added: “The fact is there is no profit to be made from operating a toilet, so they are keeping the toilets shut.”

However, the shopping centre says the toilets are closed for safety reasons.

A spokesperson for the Orchard Centre said: “The safety and wellbeing of our customers, colleagues and retailers is our priority, and we have introduced a range of measures to keep people safe.

“Unfortunately, due to their size, the toilets at the Orchard Centre are currently closed as there is not enough space to accommodate social distancing.

“We will keep this under the review, based on the latest guidance from the Government.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”