INVESTIGATIONS are going to be made into how much it will cost to “spend a penny” at the public toilets in Chard.

Former Mayor, Cllr Cathie Morrison, has suggested that Chard Town Council takes over the running of the loo facilities, currently managed by South Somerset District Council, in the car parks at Boden Street and Holyrood Street.

Cllr Morrison believes that the public toilets might be better served if operated locally by the Chard council.

“They are bad,” she said. “I’ve been in there and the smell is awful – you have to hold your nose.”

She has suggested that the council investigates how much would be needed to run and maintain the toilets.

Acting town clerk Robin Williams said that the council would probably be given a lump sum from South Somerset District Council for taking over the management of the toilets – if the town council decided to go down that route.

But he warned that they were not cheap to run.

He explained that a neighbouring town council – Langport – had been given a £35,000 lump sum to manage its toilets over five years and that the cleaning bill on just three years alone had been £22,000.

Cllr Irene Glynn said: “It is an important issue that we have public toilets, but will we be able to fund them?”

Cllr Sue Wyatt added: “I’m in principle of us owning our own public toilets. But have we got the amenities staff to deal with the rubbish that is dumped in them and the maintenance of them?”

Council officers have been instructed to look at the costings involved of them taking over the running of the public toilets in Chard.

The public toilets off of Holyrood Street, Chard. Photo: Steve Sowden.

The public toilets in Boden Street, Chard. Photo: Steve Sowden.