MEMBERS of Okehampton Town Council have reacted with indignation after West Devon Borough Council asked for additional funds for the upkeep of the town's public toilets.

Town councillors received a letter stating the borough council would now 'require' the town council to pay an additional 30% per year towards the maintenance of the Market Street and Fairplace toilets.

At a meeting of the town council's policy and resources committee last week, Cllr Charles Letchford said: 'This letter is frankly irritating. The borough council cannot require us to pay the extra 30%. That is not within their power.'

Other councillors agreed, with Cllr Tony Leech calling the borough council's approach 'dictatorial', while Cllr Kay Bickley asked: 'Why should we pay more for less?'

Cathy Aubertin, car parking and contract performance manager at West Devon Borough Council told the Times: 'The councillors are correct: we cannot force them to pay additional money.

'Originally, we asked all parish and town councils for additional help towards the maintenance of facilities.

'We received positive responses from a number of councils, and so felt it would be fair to seek a contribution from all councils.'

In January the borough council announced the closure of the Mill Road car park public toilets and wrote to town councillors requesting an additional £3,000 towards the running costs of the other facilities in the town.

Town councillors rejected the request, despite the borough council saying the contribution would make further closures less likely.