A MINEHEAD businessman has offered to re-open and run the near-derelict Carousel toilets on the town’s seafront for no charge during the summer season.
His offer was made this week in response to complaints by Easter visitors about the lack of facilities.
Marcus Kravis, who runs the Arkade amusement centre [formerly called the Carousel arcade] adjoining the toilets, said: “We can’t have another bank holiday like the last one.
“People have the right to expect basic facilities and, after witnessing yet another bank holiday weekend without these public toilets open, we have to act.
“I understand that West Somerset Council, who own the Carousel toilets, are not able to re-open them, so my business is offering to do so for them.
“All it needs is the OK by the people in charge but I have not yet been able to have any dialogue with them and we do need to get something sorted if the toilets are to be available for the main holiday season.”
Mr Kravis added: “The current situation is unacceptable and my business would prefer to pay for the cleaning and maintaining of the toilets than to see the dismay on people’s faces when we tell them that the toilets are closed, particularly those with young children.”
Asked for a comment, a West Somerset Council spokesman said:”We can confirm we have had an approach regarding this site but are unable to comment further.”
Yesterday (Thursday), Minehead district councillor Terry Venner urged the authority to open talks with Mr Kravis.
“It would seem only common sense to hold a dialogue with someone who has apparently offered to provide free toilets at no cost to the taxpayer,” Cllr Venner said.
“People are going to be very puzzled by what is going on.
“The lack of toilets on that part of the seafront is causing serious problems and surely any possible solution should be explored.
”We should call a meeting, get around the table as quickly as possible to see if there is any common ground to move forward on this.”
The toilets were first closed five years ago when there were water and electrical problems but were opened temporarily during holiday periods when they were run by volunteers.
In February last year, when handing over all the public toilets to other local authorities, West Somerset Council offered the Carousel facility to Minehead Town Council but it was turned down as being “in a bad state of repair and dangerous”.