BUDE Cornwall councillors Nigel Pearce and David Parsons (Liberal Democrat) have been negotiating with bosses at Cornwall Council for a long term solution to keeping open the Bude public toilets.

Cllr Pearce said: “Last year we persuaded the council to keep Summerleaze and Crooklets toilets open all year with funding from the car parks, but the new cabinet member decided to change what had already been agreed so we have had to negotiate all over again this year. We will not give up until our toilets are safe from closure.”

Cllr Parsons added: “The toilets are a vital facility and are part of a package including the carparks and the new beach huts which raise revenue for the council.

“We must find a long term plan to fund them properly and manage them efficiently. I hope we can keep talking to arrive at a solution. At present Bude is one of the few towns that still has toilets completely funded by Cornwall Council and in view of the current cuts imposed by the government that inevitably will change.”

Nicky Chopak Cornwall Councillor for Poundstock added: ”I am pleased that Widemouth Bay toilets will remain open, but not without some difficult negotiation with Cornwall Council, which has yet to be finalised.

“Poundstock Parish Council are anxious to ensure these facilities remain open, but also accept that Cornwall Council have to make some serious budget cuts.”

Cllr Pearce added: “The public toilets are so important to the area, we will be fighting and doing everything we can to keep them open all year around.”