A town councillor has insisted that Abergavenny’s public toilets stay open and funded, despite opposition from some councillors concerned with the cost.

Abergavenny’s three public toilet blocks cost £58,000 per year to maintain, a figure Councillor Douglas Edwards says outweighs the benefits.

The service has been a source of division between Abergavenny Town Councillors, some of whom say a permanent solution must be found.

At their monthly meeting last week, Councillor John Prosser underline his support for the service, adding that Abergavenny’s tourist trade means public toilet provision is crucial to the town’s image.

“We have toilets in Abergavenny, which is good news and we plan to make them better. It’s essential. Many people visit the town, especially on market day. To not provide a such provision like that says a great deal to visitors.

“The service is essential and must be kept open,” said Councillor Prosser.

The temperate dispute centres in the cost to the council, who currently pay Monmouthshire County Council £58,000 per year to keep the service running. Some councillors feel the sum could be diverted to more pressing matters.

Councillor Edwards said the current proposal lacked a permanent solution and ate through a disproportionate amount of a ever tightening budget, a notion backed by Councillor Roger Harris who backed putting the issue for public consultation.

Councillor Harris asked whether the public was ‘willing to pay for’ the service, adding that the toilets should be closed if local residents said so.

The current system relies on payments made to local businesses who allow visitors and local residents to use their facilities when needed. Councillor Chris Woodhouse, in support of the current setup, said this ‘complemented’ the current provision and could not act as a replacement if services were indeed removed.

• Do you think the town council should keep the toilets open, or divert the budget to elsewhere? Contact [email protected] with your thoughts and suggestions.