From today (April 1) the responsibility for these town centre toilets goes to Frome town council.

The council agreed to take on the conveniences, to save them from possible closure as Somerset continues to fight budget cuts.

The date was also agreed so that they will be open in time for the next big event in town, The Independent market on April 7.

Somerset Council has avoided bankruptcy, a so-called s114 notice, but the organisation says next year's budget is also in jeopardy.

Described as a "budget to avoid a S114 notice", Somerset agreed to a range of measures to bridge a funding gap of £100m for 2024/25, including significant savings, increasing Council Tax by 5%, and using reserves (a council's equivalent of savings).  

The proposals also include a 'capitalisation direction' of £36.9m – where councils are given permission by Government to borrow money or sell assets to pay for day-to-day running costs. 

Frome Town Council now taking on the toilets at a cost of £24,000 along with the town's CCTV cameras.

Wells Town Council is also believed to have taken off the running of the city's toilets, again to ease the financial burden on Somerset Council.

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At an earlier meeting of the Town Council, councillors were told that to not have a main block of public toilets open in the middle of Frome was simply 'unthinkable'.