BUDE-STRATTON?Town Council has taken over the management of the town’s public toilets.

Discussions leading to the decison have taken place for around a year. In October 2015 Bude-Stratton Town Council established a working group under the chairmanship of Cllr Alan Biggs, the town’s deputy mayor, specifically to oversee discussion and negotiation with Cornwall Council regarding the future of the public toilets in Bude.

Cllr Biggs explained: “Cornwall Council is devolving services and assets back to local councils, groups and organisations across the county. As a town council we have always fully appreciated / recognised the value of the public toilet facilities in Bude for both residents and our many visitors alike.

“The focus of our working group has been not only to ensure the provision of this free public amenity but also to ensure it is achieved at a reasonable cost to our electorate.”

Cllr Biggs announced that the council took over the management of the toilets on Monday, September 5.

This includes Crooklets, Summerleaze and The Crescent under a tenancy-at-will agreement with Cornwall Council.

He added: “We are now responsible for their daily operation and cleansing. In the near future we intend to take them on permanently to finalise their devolution from Cornwall Council to Bude-Stratton Town Council.”

The council’s current intention is that the public toilets will remain free of charge. Moving forward they will be monitoring usage to establish the best opening hours.

Hours will be reduced during the October to Easter period but the town council is open to ad-hoc changes and flexible extended hours particularly when significant events are taking place.