A SHIFT in position by Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) could see a temporary reprieve for the toilets in Blestium Street.

Head of Operations Roger Hoggins said on Wednesday last week (20th January): “If the county council approves its budget proposals it will include the closure of Blestium Street toilets if support is not forthcoming from Monmouth Town Council.”

Two days later, he clarified the position, stating that the county council may be willing to keep the toilets open long enough for the town council to take over the building.

Mr Hoggins said: “No formal decision has been taken to find additional money to keep the Blestium Street toilets open, but if Monmouth Town Council is investigating the feasibility of future management and funding, it would seem reasonable for the county council and town council to discuss the timescales for any such transfer.

“Depending on the timing, the county council may consider keeping the facility open in the interim.”

It follows the story in the Beacon that MCC were indicating to close the 1950s toilet block after budgetary pressures meant that unless funding from town councils was forthcoming, services within the four towns of Monmouth, Caldicot, Abergavenny and Chepstow would be cut.

Monmouth Town Council, (MTC) who now own and operate the Agincourt Street toilets, decided not to set any money aside in their next financial year towards the Blestium Street toilets, despite a warning from MCC that unless financial help was forthcoming, the service would possibly close. MTC voted by 10 votes to three that they would: “seek ownership at a later date”.

The situation now remains unclear between the two councils, as Monmouth Town Council is yet to make a firm commitment to take over the building. When the town council took over the Agincourt Street toilets, the process took around five years.

Public anger at the decision to close the facility adjacent to a bus bay which regularly brings cash-laden tourists onto the streets of the town throughout the year, spilled over into a protest and petition last Saturday.

150 residents, market traders and visitors quickly signed up to plea for a stay of execution for the building which not only houses a disabled toilet, the nearest one would then be within the Shire Hall, but also stores the equipment for the weekend market stalls and provides much-needed relief for the festival and carnival crowds during the holiday events.

Former councillor and disabled champion Terry Christopher claimed there would be a major financial loss if the closure went ahead: “I spoke to a bus driver who brought elderly and disabled people to visit the town, and he said the availability of toilets was vital to his passengers, and if the toilets closed he would no longer visit here.”.

A planned £2m Welcome Centre for the bottom of town, which included a cafe and toilets for the area was shelved last year following a lack of funding, despite a £200k grant from the EU for a feasibility study and plans.