Public Conveniences
Lower High Street

Malvern Gazette 11th January 2007

Public won't pay to spend a penny By Tarik Al Rasheed THE people of Upton answered a resounding "no" when asked if they were willing to pay extra council tax to re-open public toilets in the town centre. Around 40 residents attended a public meeting at Memorial Hall on Tuesday, January 9 to discuss a town council proposal to charge rate payers an extra £26 per year, allowing it to assume responsibility for the Lower High Street lavatories, which were closed by Malvern Hills District Council last spring. Conservative members have pledged to re-open the toilets should their party win control of the district council in the May elections, but the town council has suggested setting £14,000 aside to be used if necessary. Advertisement     continued... After introductory speeches by town council chairman John Thompson and finance committee chairman Mike Morgan the floor was handed to the public, who made it quite clear they believe the toilets should be re-opened, but at the MHDC's expense. “To put an item in the precept now would compromise our very strong view that it is the district council´s responsibility to maintain these toilets,’ Adrian Taylor, Upton Civic Society Upton Civic Society chairman Adrian Taylor said the town should send a clear message that the toilets were not its responsibility. "To put an item in the precept now would compromise our very strong view that it is the district council's responsibility to maintain these toilets," he said. His views were supported by Peter Pumphrey, who added: "If MHDC hear that we have put £14,000 aside it makes it seem as if the matter is closed completely." Tourism and Trade Association chairman Peter Webb said Upton's vital tourist trade was starting to suffer from the toilets being closed. "Many coach companies are stopping bringing people to Upton because of the lack of facilities," he said. "But why should we have to pay again for what we already pay in our council tax? I think the town council is stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one." A proposal not to include the £14,000 in the town council precept was supported by 22 votes to four, and the town council will now make a final decision on the matter when it meets on Tuesday, January 16. The town council seem likely to go with the public opinion, after Mr Morgan told the meeting: "If that is what you tell us, that is what we will do. We are your council."