BLAGDON Parish Council is to take on the running of the village’s public toilets, although the move will cause the authority’s tax precept to rise by more than 10 per cent.

North Somerset Council has been conducting a review of all of its public conveniences and is looking to shed many of the facilities next year.

Following a survey of villagers by the parish council, most residents asked said they would like to see the toilets in The Mead retained. With the only alternative being a demolition of the toilets, the parish council has now decided to take on the running of the facility, with the takeover likely to happen on April 1.

The annual cost of running the facility will be about �3,500, which will require a rise of 10.9 per cent in the village precept. That equates to about �6.65 extra each year for band D properties.