PUBLIC toilets across Colchester borough will close in April, unless parish councils can find the cash to run them.

Colchester Council has decided it will stop paying to run some toilets in a bid to save money, and has asked other councils to take over.

It has said that if they do not, the toilets will be demolished.

The news comes after the Gazette revealed three of West Mersea’s four toilet blocks are under threat.

It has now emerged toilet blocks in Dedham, Wivenhoe and Tiptree face the same fate.

Tina Bourne, Colchester councillor responsible for housing and public protection, said Tiptree and Wivenhoe had agreed to take on the responsibly of running their toilets.

But Dedham Parish Council has said it will not be able to afford its block.

Chairman Sheila Beeton said the toilet block, which is on the playing field and has disabled facilities, will cost about £10,000 a year to run.

Ms Beeton said: “This is something the councillors will feel unanimously strongly about.

“The only way the parish council could meet the additional costs would be to pass them directly on to residents.”

She highlighted that Dedham has a high number of visitors every year, but the parish council gets no extra funding to support this.

During a full Colchester Council meeting, Peter Sheane, Conservative councillor for West Mersea ward, asked Mrs Bourne why she did not think public toilets were an essential service which should be funded by the borough.

She replied: “The provision of public toilets is not a statutory duty.

“I completely understand why West Mersea Town Council are not happy. I’m glad to hear you see them as a priority service for residents. I very much hope they will rethink.”

Mark Cable, ward councillor for Dedham, asked Mrs Bourne if she thought it was fair to force the village to take on the financial burden.

Mrs Bourne said she had discovered the toilets’ lease was actually owned by the parish and was nothing to do with Colchester Council.

The parish is going through its records to check the ownership and lease contracts