A ROW is simmering over the future of the Longforth Road conveniences in Wellington – despite a notice informing the public they will be closed at the end of the month, writes Barry Knott.

The WWN has also been drawn into the row with Taunton Deane Council, which is demanding ‘a retraction and correction’ over our story last week, saying the Longforth toilets would be closing and not re-opening.

The Deane says: “We are still in talks with Wellington Town Council over the future of the public toilets in Longforth Road. A number of options have been presented to the town council and we remain optimistic that a resolution can be found.”

But town clerk Greg Dyke says: “The town council is less interested in pointing out who said what and when and more concerned about ensuring that this valuable facility remains available to residents and visitors to the town.

“The town council has said it doesn’t want to take on the freehold of the building. Having looked at the terms of the proposed lease, the insurance arrangements, the extent of our likely responsibilities and most importantly the overall cost to the town council if it was to take on the toilets, the town council came to the conclusion that in view of the likely overall cost of taking on responsibility for all three facilities the council could see very little benefit in agreeing to this course of action.

“It was therefore suggested that TDBC could still achieve the level of saving it required if it continued to be responsible for Longforth Road conveniences and the town council part-funded its maintenance.

“In the circumstances, TDBC was asked to continue to be responsible for Longforth Road public conveniences for a further three-year period on the basis that the town council would make a contribution toward the cost of its maintenance. This would mean that TDBC could achieve a saving and the town council would be able to see all three facilities in Wellington remain open.

“Despite offering to talk about paying to keep the Longforth Road toilets open TDBC has told us “the only offer available to Wellington Town Council is for freehold transfer or full repairing and maintaining lease.”

To this the Deane has added: “Taunton Deane Borough Council has erected the signs as it has yet to reach any agreement with the town council on the future operation of the Longforth Road conveniences and there is no funding for these from April 1.

“The town council has been in discussion with TDBC for two years on the options and we remain optimistic that a resolution can be found – but time is running out.”