RESIDENTS and visitors who get caught short in Tendring could end up spending more than a penny to use public toilets in the future.

The move to charge people to use public loos has been put forward by Tendring Council as a way of increasing income as the authority tries to make savings of £3.8 million by 2019/20.

The money-spinning idea has been welcomed by council bean counters after a portfolio holder suggested the move.

The council could also look at working with town and parish councils to see whether they want to take over some of the Tendring-run public conveniences in their own areas.

But Harwich town councillor Ivan Henderson said: “We already take on loads of Tendring Council assets – the putting greens, we just put £100,000 towards a new skate park in our budget, we give grants to lots of local community groups and also paid towards the CCTV cameras – our budget is fully committed to things we believe should already be the responsibility of Tendring Council.

“We will look at things in the future, but we are doing our fair share in the town already.”

But Neil Stock, leader of Tendring Council, said he felt that talking with town and parish councils about various assets was worth investigating.

“However, it should only be where they want to take them over – and we will not be forcing them to do that,” he said.

The idea was recommended by the council’s corporate management committee.

Carlo Guglielmi, cabinet member for finance, enforcement and community safety, backed the idea.

“I thank the committee for bringing these forward and I think we should consider charging for public conveniences,” he added.

Tendring Council has around 40 public toilets and the facilities on Frinton seafront are the only ones currently charged for.

Council bosses also hope to raise cash by pushing ahead with its plans to sell off its offices in Thorpe Road, Weeley to raise around £1.2 million.