An issue which has plagued councillors for the past twelve months has been given a six-month deadline to reach a final decision.

Abergavenny councillors now have until August this year to decide whether funding public toilets in the town is viable, or a new direction found.

The issue has divided the council, with some questioning the cost of the service.

Councillor Douglas Edwards said in Wednesday’s meeting that the £58,000 yearly cost of keeping the four public toilets in service was too high, and called for a solution which would devolve the responsibility to a private firm.

“We could make a considerable saving: a very substantial sum of money, if we want to go down the road of competitive tender.

“We’ve had 12 months. It’s about time we got off our hands and sorted this out,” said Cllr Edwards. Under Councillor Edwards' proposal, services at Castle Street public toilet would be handed to the Shopmobility group, saving in the region of £20,000.

Abergavenny Town Council currently spends nearly a quarter of its budget on maintaining four public toilets in the town. Local businesses are also paid to permit visitors to use their facilities.

Councillor Nick Tatam echoed Edwards’ proposal, saying that the council should ‘take the opportunity to spend half the money’ it currently pays out for the service.

After a motion from Councillor John Prosser was amended, a unanimous vote passed giving the council six months to come up with a permanent solution.

Councillor Tudor Thomas said the council to rethink the service.

“For £60,000, I think we get a poor deal. Some people I have come across have complained about the toilets, the smell etcetera. I just don’t think the current deal is a good one. We are signing a blank cheque for sixty grand for quite a poor service. A private company would do a better job for less,” he said.Have your say on public toilets - take our online survey