A PUBLIC convenience in Usk could be reopened if negotiations with a trader, who is considering running a refreshment kiosk on the site, are successful .

At last week's Central Monmouthshire meeting held at Llangybi, members were told that some research had been made using the authority's licensing applications to identify a trader who is keen to run a refreshment facility on the site.

It was suggested that as part of the license requirements that they should be asked to manage the toilet block and car park barriers.

The Usk Island public conveniences were one of the five facilities closed across the county in April. But when human excrement was found near the building, the local authority arranged for portable toilets to be positioned outside the permanent building, which is also used as a changing room for sports teams.

Technically the toilets are in located in Llanbadoc, but they are used by visitors and local people from Usk.

Councillor Brian Strong said, "A lot of visitors come into the town and complain to us about the lack of toilet provision in the Usk Island area.

"It's not sensible to have a facility like this that is not used, when the other half of the building continues to be used as a sports facility."

Councillor Peter Clark added, "I am sure the figures of £12,000 have been calculated by administrators to manage the building, but in reality these don't reflect the costs if it's managed locally.

"I am sure substantial savings could be made if it was undertaken by somebody in Usk."

The meeting's chairman Councillor Andrew Crump (pictured) added, "I echo those thoughts and in the scheme of things the authority's savings are minimal and I agree that a locally managed facility would not cost anywhere near the £12,000 mark."

Councillor Val Smith pointed out that even though the building is also used by sporting teams as a changing room that gives the players somewhere to relieve themselves, spectators do not have same option to spend a penny.

Following the amount of complaints its had from visitors, Usk Town Council has called on Monmouthshire County Council to reopen the public loos at the popular picnic site until a solution can be found.

Usk Town Council has offered to fund part of the £11,000 cost of running the toilets but Llanbadoc Community Council have previously stated that it cannot afford to make up the difference.

In an open letter to the authority, deputy mayor Christine Wilkinson said that since the Usk Island toilets closed a local hotel are nearby filling station had been inundated with requests to use their toilets.

Roger Hoggins, the council's head of highways, who had been due to speak at the Central Monmouthshire meeting had previously said that negations had failed to reopen the toilets, even as a limited service at weekends.