THE “drab” toilets in Salisbury Market Place will get a new lease of life if plans to paint murals on them are given the go ahead.

Artist Fred Fieber, who painted the murals at Milford Street bridge, is hoping to decorate the stone walls facing the square with traditional market scenes.

The idea was put forward at a meeting of Salisbury Area Board on Thursday by councillor Brian Dalton, who acknowledged “there may be a few hurdles we have to jump through”.

He said: “Milford Street bridge is absolutely fantastic, and I’m hoping [Mr Fieber] is going to replicate something on the walls of the drab toilets.”

Addressing the meeting, Mr Fieber said he aimed to brighten up a “rather uninspiring area”, probably depicting the history of the “great market we have had over the centuries”.

The mural may show traders and livestock, among other things, providing a “history lesson for people in Salisbury”, he said.

Cllr Richard Clewer, who oversaw the Market Place refurbishment project, said Salisbury Civic Society had raised concerns with him about the proposals and did not approve of the scheme “as it stands”.

“Most of them don’t like this idea at all,” he said.

The society questioned whether painting directly on to the stone was a good idea, but the option of painting onto boards attached to the walls was also discussed.

Cllr Clewer also said it would be “very foolish” to make a decision before the future ownership of the square had been decided as part of the asset transfer process.

Ricky Rogers said it would bring “a little bt of fun and enjoyment” to a dull area that was “starting to look shoddy”.

As the details were debated, Cllr Dalton urged the board to “just get on with it” and approve the plans, “or the summer is going to be gone”.

Mary Douglas said it was a “wonderful idea” but should be subject to a public consultation and the area board should approve the final design.

Members awarded £5,000 to the project, subject to it getting permission from the owner of the toilets, after the conclusion of negotiations between Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council.