More than £9,000 has been spent repairing vandalised public toilets in Aberaeron as Ceredigion County Council warns that criminal damage to public facilities is “not uncommon”.

The toilets at Masons Row were one of three sets of public conveniences damaged earlier this year, with repairs costing £9,185.

Ceredigion County Council confirmed that work on the facility was completed on Thursday, 8 October, following lengthy discussions with insurers and significant repair work. The toilets are due to reopen on Monday, 12 October.

The facility, which normally provides male, female and accessible toilets free of charge, had been closed following vandalism and fire damage.

The council said it is aware of incidents affecting a number of public toilet facilities across Ceredigion and is continuing to assess damage and carry out repairs where possible.

Vandalism has also affected public conveniences in Aberystwyth and Tregaron.

The most recent incident involved damage to the baby-changing unit at the Castle Grounds toilets in Aberystwyth over the weekend of 3 and 4 October. The baby-changing toilet is currently closed, although alternative baby-changing facilities remain available inside the male and female toilets at the site.

The baby-changing facility at the public toilets in Tregaron car park is also unavailable because of vandalism, while the remainder of the toilets there remain open.

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, incidents of vandalism and criminal damage are not uncommon.

“Damage of this nature can often lead to temporary closures while repairs are carried out, causing disruption to residents and visitors who rely on these facilities and placing additional pressure on public resources.”

Other public conveniences across the county are currently closed for reasons not listed as vandalism. These include facilities at Aberaeron North Beach and at Paragon Car Park and Sandy Slip in New Quay.

It is not the first time vandalism and deliberate damage to public toilets has caused disruption in Ceredigion.

In April, Lampeter Town Council appealed for vandalism and attempted arson at the town’s public conveniences to stop after taking control of the facilities from the county council. The town council said at the time that repeated damage was creating extra work and expense while affecting an amenity used by residents and visitors.

Public toilets at Lower Mwldan in Cardigan have also previously been repeatedly targeted. Opening hours at the facilities were reduced in 2023 after they were vandalised three times in the space of a week.

Ceredigion County Council said public toilets provide an important service to both local communities and visitors and urged people to help protect the facilities.

The council added “We would encourage anyone with information relating to vandalism or criminal damage at public facilities to report it either to Ceredigion County Council or Dyfed-Powys Police.

“The cooperation of local communities is invaluable in helping to protect and maintain public amenities across the county.”

The council maintains an online list showing which public conveniences are open and whether any facilities are subject to restrictions or temporary closures.