It's Loo-nacy - toilets will be refurbished with housing money (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

It's Loo-nacy - toilets will be refurbished with housing money

MONEY earmarked for affordable housing in the Cotswolds is to be spent on refurbishing public toilets.

But councillors have decided to close three other conveniences - in a bid to save money.

The authority hopes to save £50,000 by axing certain toilets as part of £2 million worth of public service cuts announced last year.

The council's executive committee decided last Thursday to close facilities at the Lorry Park, Old Station and London Road in Cirencester.

But they also voted in favour of setting £250,000 aside to revamp toilets at Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and at Cirencester's Forum.

The facilities are likely to be made into unisex pay cubicles and members hope to recoup the outlay through fees.

A report, which went before the committee, said: "Funds would have to be allocated from the presently ring-fenced Housing Capital Fund.

"If income estimates prove to be accurate, the annual income generated from the three selected conveniences could reach £52,000."

The Housing Capital Fund was set up with £52 million raised from the sale of the council's housing stock to Fosseway Housing Association five years ago.

After paying off outstanding debts, the council was left with £43 million to invest in new affordable housing.

A recent decision to pull a further £1m from the fund to go towards the Cirencester Traffic and Environment Plan was heavily criticised.

Cllr Sandra Price was so incensed she resigned from the CTEP joint steering group in protest.

(BLOB) At last week's meeting, the executive committee also agreed to increase fees and charges, which range from licensing to leisure centre prices, to raise money.

It also decided to axe or reduce grants to several organisations to make further savings.

The decisions, including the toilets, were all made as part of the council's medium term revenue plan for 2003/4.