The future of Burnham and Highbridge’s public conveniences has been secured for at least another year after town councillors this week voted in favour of spending £38,000 on keeping them open.
It comes after cash-strapped Sedgemooor District Council said it may not be able to afford keeping public loos open in the towns without the financial help of the Town Council.
Town councillors at a meeting on Monday approved contributing £38,055 towards the cost of maintaining the facilities in the two towns over the coming year.
Alison Griffin, Sedgemoor’s Corporate Director, had urged the council to come forward with 50% of the costs of maintaining ‘tourist loos’ in Burnham and the full cost of Highbridge’s Bank Street facilities, which amounted to £13,750.
A town council spokeswoman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Members agreed that the amount was paid for this year, but that next year Sedgemoor’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment should look into the most cost-effective way of continuing the service.”
“Three options will be considered in future years – SDC continuing to manage them with funding support from the Town Council; or the Town Council talking on the service and out-sourcing it; or the Town Council working with other parishes to provide a service.”
