A council says it is “open” to ideas over the future of a village’s public toilet block.

Meopham Parish Council announced it would be shutting the loos opposite Pitfield Green last April as they were “unfit for purpose”.

It claimed they “weren’t well used” and the cost of bringing them up to speed would be in excess of £50,000 with further costs for maintenance for burst pipes escalating into the tens of thousands of pounds.

However, the decision infuriated villagers who called for council chairman Cheryl Price to step down at a full council meeting held on Tuesday, January 21.

Hundreds of people had voted in a poll — requested by petitioners and held at the taxpayers’ request — for the lavatory to be reopened.

More than 30 villagers also rallied at the toilets to protest the council’s decision on Friday, January 24.

James Ferrin, who organised the meet, told KentOnline the council was acting as an “autocratic dictatorship” because it has ignored a public poll in favour of the toilets remaining open.

However, the parish council said while the exact number of people who used the site was not known, a footfall counter was installed between October 2022 and March 2023 and 52 visits were recorded in that period.

The council commissioned a survey covering the outside building which was published in December – before councillors voted on what it should do with the facility.

They went against public opinion and agreed to demolish the loos, as the survey showed a “weak business case” for keeping it open.

The majority agreed that maintaining the facility in its current form was not a responsible use of public money.

This was due to the high annual operating costs and the significant investment required to bring the facility up to modern standards.

Following feedback from around 11% of the electorate in a parish poll, councillors unanimously voted to demolish the existing structure to slab level, as full refurbishment was financially unviable.

They also voted to install a new, modern, eco-friendly single-unit toilet, which would save around £7,500 per year.

As well as this, an application has been submitted for grant funding to support the new facility and minimise costs to parishioners.

A parish council spokesperson said: “While the council is confident that this decision provides the most sustainable and responsible solution, we also want to listen to the community and offer an opportunity for local groups to put forward an alternative proposal before any work begins.”

It is inviting charities, community interest companies and local groups to come forward if they believe they can refurbish and manage the existing building, secure funding to cover long-term operational costs, and maintain a public toilet facility suitable for young families and individuals with accessibility needs.

To support this initiative, the council is open to negotiating a lease agreement on a peppercorn basis with a suitable applicant.

Those interested need to submit an expression of interest by March 10. It needs to include:

- Organisation name and structure

- Proposed business and operational plan for managing the facility.

- Funding plan (grants, donations, income sources).

- Outline of experience in community asset management, if applicable

The parish council will review all submissions and may invite shortlisted groups to discuss their proposals in more detail.

It said: “The council firmly believes that it does its very best to act professionally, responsibly, and in the best interests of the community.

“We are committed to listening, but we must also ensure that any decision is financially responsible and sustainable.

“If you believe your group can take on the facility, we welcome your proposal.”