WATCHET looks set to keep its full quota of public loos thanks to a new deal between town councillors and West Somerset Council.

The threat of winter closure hung over one of the toilet blocks in either Harbour Road or Market Street, with uncertainty over the long term future as the district council - which owns both facilities - grappled with the need to make savings.

But this week Watchet Town Council said a continuing working relationship and partnership approach with the district council had resulted in an agreement to keep open both sets of toilets.

And under the deal, the out of date facilities at the Harbour Road block will undergo a £15,000 refurbishment that will include the introduction of waterless units in the men's section and low water use facilities in the women's.

The toilet block will be repainted and reglazed and will open all year at no charge, from 9am to 4pm in the winter and 9am to 7pm in the summer.

Although there will be no disabled facilities at Harbour Road, those in the Market Street block will be enhanced and will open daily all year round.

Although disabled people will be able to use them free of charge, there will be a 20p fee for all others, including those wanting to use the baby changing unit.

One of the two unisex cubicles at Market Street will be closed, with the remaining cubicle only open from 9am to 7pm from April to October.

Savings will be made by having no heating, using lights on timers and reducing water use but the town council will contribute up to £3,000 a year to the operating costs of both sets of public loos.

Town councillors endorsed the agreement at their monthly meeting on Monday, subject to final approval when they set their precept for the coming financial year later this month.

Members of a special working group set up to investigate how the toilets could be retained - Cllrs Ruth Gavenlock, John Irven and Loretta Whetlor - were thanked for their hard work and success in striking a deal.

Cllr Irven said the planned refurbishment of the Harbour Road facilities would upgrade them from their current Victorian standard to 21st century standard.

He said there would be no changes to current opening hours between now and April but as soon as final agreements were reached, the upgrading work could begin.

And he said he wanted to thank and acknowledge the professionalism and help of district council officers - in particular Steve Watts - and consultant David Hancock who had drawn up the detailed plan for the Harbour Road work.

Four public toilets in West Somerset will remain closed this winter in a move designed to try and keep conveniences open during the busier summer months.

The facilities affected include those in Blenheim Gardens and at the Carousel in Minehead, Church Street in Dunster and Porlock's central toilets.