PARISH councillors in Calstock said at a meeting last week that they were committed to keeping public toilets open in the parish but would like the revenue from Gunnislake Car Park to fund them.

Cornwall Council is proposing to share the cost of running public toilets with parish councils and other partners as it battles to make major savings. The authority says it has no statutory duty to provide public loos.

Members of Calstock Parish Council were told at a recent meeting by strategic waste and landscape manager for Cornwall Council Charlie David that there were plans to cut the costs for public loos in Gunnislake and Calstock by 50%.

The toilets currently cost £14,000 to run so the parish council has to find the £7,000 shortfall.

Calstock Parish Council is to request figures relating to Gunnislake Car Park from Cornwall Council, which currently run the facility, with the possibility of taking on the management of the car park and using the revenue to pay for the toilets.

Cllr Dick Hoile said several months ago Cornwall Council talked about giving up the management of facilities if there was a 'revenue neutral' implication.

'They talked about taking on a pair of things,' he said. 'One, like the car park, which makes money and the other, like the toilets, which costs money.

'That was a while ago though and I think the council may have other ideas about how they wish to manage car parks in the future,' he said.

'At this point in time we are just asking the questions and we will talk about it again when we have some answers.

'Whatever the outcome we will strive to keep the toilets open.'