Machynlleth Town Council will “shop around” after being quoted £7,000 for CCTV, to be installed by the town’s public toilets in a bid to stop vandalism.

In a council meeting on 26 July, councillors were informed that, in 2021 alone, the council have had to repair the coin operated doors to the public toilets in Maengwyn car park five times after they were kicked in by vandals.

During a council meeting on 27 September, locum clerk to the council Gwilym Rippon said the installation of the deployable CCTV cameras, which include their own SIM card and hard drive, would cost £7,000 each over five years. It was suggested only one would be needed.

Cllr Ann MacGarry responded: “This is a huge expense. I think we should shop around and look at a number of different systems, to get some reference. We need something reliable so not the cheapest option, but we can’t just look at one.”

Cllr Michael Williams added: “I have no difficulty in us shopping around, it is the common sense thing to do. But I really hope we will agree on having a decent system. We can’t possibly carry on without trying to find out who caused the damage.”

The new clerk to the council Catherine Craven, who started in the role on Friday, 1 October, said a similar system was used in Llantrisant, where she was a clerk previously, but was not successful as the vandals wore black hooded jumpers that hid their faces.

Cllr Jeremy Paige asked whether figures on how much the vandalism had cost could be presented.

Cllr Williams said: “I agree with us seeking how much the vandalism has cost us. But at the same time its not just the vandalism, it’s the inconvenience for people when the toilets are shut.”

But Cllr MacGarry suggested, off the back of Ms Craven’s comments, that the installation of the CCTV would not guarantee an end to the attacks: “We don’t just want more accurate pictures of black hoodies.”

It was agreed that the council would look at other options to compare costing.

Cllr Jeremy Paige suggested the council look at other, possibly cheaper, options.

“We need to be in a position of information to know which is best,” Cllr Paige responded.

The council agreed to look at other options.