CASH due to be spent upgrading and maintaining toilets across North Somerset has been flushed down the pan due to budget cuts. North Somerset Council has trimmed £36,000 of its £90,000 toilet maintenance budget to try to balance the books and keep council

CASH due to be spent upgrading and maintaining toilets across North Somerset has been flushed down the pan due to budget cuts.North Somerset Council has trimmed £36,000 of its £90,000 toilet maintenance budget to try to balance the books and keep council tax levels down.But the decision, which has left just £54,000 in the pot to maintain all public loos across the district, has not surprised village leaders who believe the move will lead to more and more conveniences closing.Bleadon Parish Council chairman Penny Skelley said: "We're not overly concerned and not greatly surprised. I can see the number of toilets dropping until there aren't any left."I think a lot of villages thought this might happen and have budgeted for it or decided to close their toilets."Banwell Parish Council was given the difficult decision last year of taking over the cost of the public loos or closing them.A businessman and resident has now offered to build a new toilet lock in the village car park if the council gives him the land the current toilets are on. He is currently negotiating with North Somerset Council.But some villages could struggle if their conveniences are in need of repair or are targeted by vandals.A North Somerset Council spokesman said: "The cuts in budget will not result in any toilets closing."The money will be used for basic repair and maintenance of all the district's lavatories."However, if there is serious vandalism to any public toilet, it is possible they may have to close if the money is not available for substantial repairs.