Public toilets in Abergavenny will be funded and kept open after councillors agreed to settle the contentious issue.

A meeting of town councillors last week decided to find the extra cash to avoid closing any of the public toilet facilities in town, settling the back-and-forth between town and county councillors over the funding of the service.

Previous Conservative-led councils were often split on the issue, with some councillors suggesting the £58,000 per year needed to fund such facilities could be diverted elsewhere, whilst others insisted the closure of even one block was politically unviable.

The new Labour council confirmed last Wednesday evening that all toilet blocks in the town will remain open.

Councillor Stephen Head, of Castle Ward, told councillors the safeguarded provision would help Abergavenny’s name as a tourist destination.

“Toilets have been a big issue in recent years, with the last council wanting to close all but one toilet. We, as a Labour council, do not think that is right for the townspeople, the town itself, or for the many people who visit the town. We are keeping them all open,” he said.

“We have the money in reserve. It will not cause this council much difficulty, I am sure.”