TOWN and parish councils and community groups hoping to take over West Somerset’s public toilets in April have been given extra time to apply for grants from the district council’s sustainability fund.

At last Thursday’s meeting of the council’s scrutiny committee, officers agreed to give groups “until sometime in January” to make their applications for funds after councillors protested that the current deadline of December 23 simply could not be met.

The council had stipulated that applications for grants should contain two quotes for work needed on the toilets – or one quote from a qualified surveyor.

It also asked for a statement of expected income and expenditure for the coming year, plans of the proposal, details of planning permission if necessary and a statement of community consultation.

Committee chairman Cllr Peter Murphy agreed that the December deadline was “totally and completely unrealistic” and Cllr Keith Turner said he understood the urgency of the matter but it was important to “keep onside” bodies seeking to take over the toilets.

It was agreed that a new deadline “sometime in January” would be fixed shortly.

Members formally approved the transfer of public conveniences to town and parish councils and community groups by freehold at £1, by leasehold at £1 per annum or by licence. Cllr Parbrook had proposed the inclusion of the third, licence option “to allow for contingencies”.