BUDGET cuts mean councils are under pressure to save every penny, and in Ceredigion that means fewer places to spend one.

Ceredigion has stopped operating 29 per cent its public toilets since 2000, according to newly released figures. Across the area, six loos have closed, and the council has transferred eight others to new owners.

Data obtained by the British Toilet Association through a Freedom of Information request shows that there are 34 council-operated toilets, down from 48 two decades ago.

Across the UK, at least 1,541 of these conveniences were closed over the period – a drop of 39 per cent. The figure could be even bigger as many local authorities did not reply to the query.

Local authorities can come to an agreement with private businesses to open their amenities for the public in exchange for a payment or a tax credit.

The British Toilet Association has started a campaign called Use Our Loos to encourage businesses to open their toilets to non-­customers and make this known by displaying a sticker.

The director of the organisation, Raymond Martin, said: “We know that councils are under immense pressure with their budgets and despite having no legal obligation to maintain these public facilities, they have continued to try to reverse the rate of decline.

“They are constantly looking at alternative ideas, such as individual community toilet schemes to provide reasonable provision for their communities. Use Our Loos is a community­-oriented solution not about opening more toilets but making more toilets that already exist accessible to the public.”

In Ceredigion there is one public convenience for every 2,149 residents, compared to one for 10,930 people in the UK.

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