PLANS to charge people to use public toilets in Aberystwyth have been panned by members of the public.

A six to 12-month trial of a 20p charge to use the award-winning toilets in Park Avenue will begin on 10 November.

The county council said that the new fee is a way of raising money for the council’s coffers “to maintain the high standards of these conveniences”.

The plan could then be rolled out at the council-owned public toilets that remain open in the county.

However, William Beech, from Nantwich in Cheshire, said that charging for the toilets could see fewer tourists stopping in the town.

“I was travelling through, we were visiting New Quay, and I was glad that the toilets here are free,” he said.

“In many places the toilets are free and it encourages people to go to a town, the small things like that.

“It may be difficult for tourists but also for the locals who will have to pay.

“It is not good to charge for using the toilet in my opinion.”

Cllr Alun Williams, Ceredigion council Cabinet member for environmental services, said that when the council asked the public for ideas about how best to manage the severe funding cuts it is being subjected to, charging for entry to toilets has been a regular suggestion.See this week's south editions for the full story, in shops and online now