PUBLIC LOOS MAY SHUT IN CUTBACKS

A TOWN centre toilet in Tiverton could be axed under a money- saving round of cuts proposed by Mid Devon District Council.

The public convenience in Phoenix Lane, opposite the Jobcentre Plus office, is one of a number around the district which have been earmarked for possible closure from 2011

The proposed closure could contribute to a saving of £18,300 on the council’s environmental health budget, which could be implemented next year.

The district council says the time delay would allow for consultation to take place with town and parish councils in the affected areas.

Tiverton town clerk John Vanderwolfe said: “I think there would be a lot of opposition to those toilets being closed.

“They are well used, including by people using the bus station.”

Cllr Kevin Wilson said the toilets were needed, especially as the bus station didn’t have its own toilet facilities.

He said he also wondered whether the council would wish to push through such a closure in what would be an election year.

The Westexe and People’s Park toilets in Tiverton are already maintained by the town council under agreement with MDDC, without which both of these toilets would have closed.

The town council has recently set its budget for the year ahead and has earmarked £4,500 towards People’s Park and £3,000 towards Westexe.

The difference in cost between the two is because the toilets in Westexe are only open during the summer.

If the town council did decide to take on the provision of the toilets, this would be likely to have a knock-on effect on its budget and the precept levied, said Mr Vanderwolfe.

Cllr Ray Radford, portfolio holder for the street scene at Mid Devon District Council, was keen to stress discussion on possible savings from closure of toilets was at a very early stage.

He said: “A decision has not been made on potential closure of public conveniences yet.

“There will be consultation about any proposals as it is important to get the feel for what people want.”

Cllr Radford said expected reductions in central government funding in the years ahead meant several options for savings had to be considered.

He said: “It is possible we could be facing a situation in the coming years where there will be cuts in government grants to local government of around 20 per cent, so we may have to look at a number of potential savings including closing some public toilets.”

However, Cllr Radford said closing a number of public loos might not prove as beneficial in cost terms as forecast.

He said that a previous round of cuts in toilets around the district four or five years ago had not saved as much money as expected, so the financial merits would have to be carefully scrutinised.

The proposals were contained within a draft budget report which was examined by the council’s own scrutiny committee last month.

The committee also raised concerns regarding the damaging effect on the council’s image of a reduction in high profile minor budgets, and also cautioned that the implications for service delivery resulting from any cuts needed to be fully understood.

Other public conveniences around the district earmarked for possible closure a year from now include facilities at St Lawrence Green in Crediton, Morchard Road, Hemyock and Sampford Peverell.