Despite public uproar, a pay-on-entry system will officially be installed around the district at many toilets, the South Hams District Council decided yesterday.They claim it will go towards their running costs and protect them from closure. During their recent budget setting process, the SHDC agreed to look in detail at what it does with the non-statutory services. SHDC currently spends £1m per annum providing and maintaining public toilets. With a predicted budget gap of £0.3 million, a pay on entry scheme is a way of helping to close the gap but continuing to provide a valuable service. A new location has also been added: Ferry Steps in Salcombe. This decision also affects businesses that don’t have proper facilities for their staff.At this week’s Salcombe Town Council meeting, Cllr Phillip Lafferty-Holt raised the issue that 30 per cent of businesses on Salcombe’s Fore Street would suffer due to the new system, because the staff use the toilets and therefore, could end up paying up to £365 per year per person. Cllr Rufus Gilbert said: “There’s no doubt that continuing to provide public toilets is important for residents, visitors and businesses in the South Hams. As a result the council was determined to find a way to protect them, despite the enormous pressures on our budget. “As the executive member with the responsibility for public toilets, I take my role very seriously and I have said before that the last thing that I want to do is to be responsible for closing toilets. I visit many of the toilets around the district while I am out and about, when I see something that is not satisfactory I speak to the team to make sure any issues are resolved to the best of our physical and financial ability. Securing additional funding for our toilets will not only help us keep them open, but also in good working order.”

South Hams District Council’s executive committee on Thursday are being recommend to go out to tender to deliver the pay on entry equipment to the 15 public conveniences in the district.

They are also being asked to approve pay on entry being installed at the toilets in Mill Bay – not initially included in the plans – and that the Slapton Memorial toilets are closed as a result of storm damage.

The report to the executive says: “As part of the budget proposals, it was agreed to make significant savings of £226,000 in the cost of providing and maintaining public conveniences.

“Part of the savings to be achieved was the approval to install pay on entry at the following public conveniences – Bigbury, Whitestrand, Creek, North Sands, South Sands, Coronation Road, Steamer Quay, Civic Hall, Fore Street, Slapton Line, Glanvilles Mill, Wembury, Mill Bay and Dittisham.

“The installation of the pay on entry proposes to create £16,000 income in 2018/19 and £36,000 by 2019/20.

“Mill Bay toilets were under consideration to be transferred to parish/closure however, following consideration regarding the high usage and seasonal profile of these toilets it is felt these toilets are suitable for pay.”

The report adds: “The recent Storm Emma has caused significant coastal erosion at Memorial car park, Slapton where a block of toilets under consideration are located. This coastal erosion has left the septic tank associated with the toilets exposed with only a two metre buffer to the beach edge.

“Slapton Memorial toilets were identified as being a potential pay on entry site. However, the significant costs to relocate the septic tank and the uncertainty regarding the future of these toilets makes the installation of pay on entry unsustainable.”

The report continues: “The option to do nothing will not deliver any budget savings to the Council, and the savings identified would need to be found elsewhere within the Council.

“Footfall experienced at some of the less well-used facilities would increase the amount of time needed to pay back the expenditure of installing the coin operated system and increase pressure on the revenue budget.

“Introducing charging to the council public toilets may increase user’s expectations of the level of quality of the facility. The Council may experience an increase in complaints if the quality and cleanliness of the provisions falls below a perceived acceptable standard.”

It is proposed that the pay on entry be tendered so pay on entry systems can be installed on the proposed 15 sites and that the Memorial toilets in Slapton are recommended to be shut with immediate effect.

The executive meets on Thursday, April 26, to consider the recommendation.