WEST Mersea Town Council is considering charging people 20p to pee at its public toilets.

The council took over the management of the public toilets in Willoughby Avenue and Fairhaven Avenue, from Colchester Council, last year to stop them closing.

The running costs are £30,000 a year and a further £20,000 is being spent on refurbishing the toilets, due to be completed this month.

Councillors may have to introduce a charge to offset the cost.

David Tucker, clerk, said: “To install the entry machine equipment will cost up to £10,000 and we have to be sure we’d be able to recover this through the fee.

“We have a footfall machine on two of the toilets to try and measure how much money this could bring but during winter the usage is less than the summer, so it’s difficult to know exactly.

“However, a decision is likely to be made within two to three months.”

Despite the investment in the public toilets, West Mersea Town Council has voted to cut the parish council’s council tax precept by 12 per cent.

The move will save a Band D household about £8 a year.

Mr Tucker said the council has been able to do this by saving on its contribution to the town’s sports facilities.

He said: “We made quite a sizeable contribution to various sports grounds and facilities in the region of £12,500, which we’ve been relieved from for next year.

“The council paid out some money on resurfacing the courts, pitch maintenance and sprucing up the rugby changing rooms at The Glebe sports ground off Colchester Road, so minus these and other building work, we’ll be able to save approximately £24,488.”

The council also plans to fund the toilets through income made from car park fees as well as the 20p toilet entry charge.

Mr Tucker said further council tax precept reductions will be possible if the charge is a success.