A REDUCTION in street cleaning and changes to Williton's public toilets are among cuts proposed by local parish councillors as part of a districtwide bid to shift responsibility for a range of services.

Williton Parish Council, like all town and parish authorities across the district, is faced with taking over some of the services currently provided by West Somerset Council - or risk losing them.

Talks have been taking place between officers and members of both councils since August and this week parish councillors gave their backing to initial proposals.

Their plans to save services without huge increases in the local share of Council Tax bills include revamping the Killick Way conveniences.

Two unisex toilets could be created - hopefully funded by district council money - one of which would be for disabled people.

Currently, there are three cubicles in the women's toilets and urinals in the men's section, which would go if the proposals are accepted.

The costs of running the toilets in their present state - estimated at about £12,500 a year - are expected to be covered for another year.

Parish councillors are also looking at negotiating with businesses in the village who may be interested in widening the public use of their toilets, and even applying for charitable status for the Killick Way facilities to reduce the rates bill.

On street cleaning, they have said they are prepared to see mechanical sweeping cut from an eight week cycle to every ten weeks, with daily manual cleaning reduced to alternate days.

And they are suggesting that a twice weekly mechanical sweep of areas covered by manual cleaning should be dropped.

Cllr Bill Vaughan told councillors at their monthly meeting on Monday that this was a duplication of effort that made no sense or logic.

The number of litter bins in the village could also be cut by half to just seven, although councillors have asked for the number of dog waste bins to be increased by one, bringing the total number to seven.

Changes to grounds maintenance of public areas in the village were discussed behind closed doors because any proposals could involve parish council staff.