PARISH councillors are due to make a decision on the future of Gunnislake’s public toilets today (Wednesday) after being advised by police to shut them following months of ‘revolting’ vandalism and criminal damage.

The toilets at the bottom of Chapel Street have been subjected to numerous incidents of vandalism, most prominently incidents of someone smearing faeces over the floor and walls on an almost weekly basis for several months.

To tackle the problem Calstock Parish Council agreed to shut the toilets on weekend evenings, but the perpertrator simply carried on the disgusting act during the week.

The clerk to the parish council Sue Lemon said: ‘There has been a lot of criminal damage to the toilets — some pretty revolting stuff.

‘Someone has been smearing faeces on the floors and walls, always in the gents’ toilets, for about three or four months now and at least once a week.

‘We took the decision in mid-September to shut the toilets in the evenings at the weekends as a trial run, but it didn’t seem to make a difference.’

‘As the problem has been getting worse the police suggested we shut the toilets completely. It is not something we want to do but we can’t keep subjecting our staff to cleaning it up.’

The clerk said the police had reported the incidents as criminal damage but there wasn’t much officers could do unless someone was caught in the act. The parish council took over the running of the toilets over a year ago from Cornwall Council to save them for the village but with the recent filthy incidents as well as other vandalism, including deliberate blockages and toilet seats being stolen, the council may have to make the difficult decision to shut them for good.

The clerk added: ‘We’re trying to find a way to stop it from happening. We’ve had quite a few emails from residents asking for the toilets not to be closed but we’ve got to weigh that up with looking after the safety of our staff.

‘It’s a shame because we saved this service for the people of Gunnislake and now someone could be taking that away from everyone who needs it.’

The council is due to make a decision on the proposal to close the toilets at its meeting tonight.