The latest moves in the long running saga of Falmouth’s public toilets were laid before councillors on Monday evening, with two options on the table.

Councillors heard that the chairman of the council’s finance committee, Candy Atherton, had met with the Cornwall Council portfolio holder Edwina Hannaford last week and, after a “productive” meeting, members had a choice between different “deals.”

They must decide whether to opt for a leasehold agreement with the authority, with a grant from Cornwall Council of £100,000 and all seven toilets being completely refurbished before they are taken over, or to take over the freehold of the facilities.

Ms Atherton told councillors that it was clear that the authority wanted to help as much as it could, and that if the toilets were taken over the town council could possibly maintain them for less.

Adding: “We cannot go through another summer like this one. Cafe owners are desperate to know what is going on.”

She stressed that it was important not to find “a one year solution.”

The current situation is that toilets are owned and operated by Cornwall Council, with members of the public being charged to use those at Prince of Wales Pier and Grove Place. Those at Castle Beach, Gyllyngvase, Maenporth and Swanpool are likely to see scaled back opening hours. The toilets in Webber Street are “mothballed.” The building freehold will transfer to the town council and the lavatories will not reopen. The new Kimberley Park toilets are already owned and operated by the town council and are free and open all year.

Councillors heard that the charging was “unpopular,” subject to abuse and that the standard of cleaning was “poor” and not best practice in regards to disabled access. However, the charges helped offset the upkeep of all the facilities, not just those where turnstyles had been installed.

Where toilets had already been transferred to local councils elsewhere, an offer of a grant of 100 per cent of fixed costs and 50 per cent of cleaning costs was made. This had been previously rejected by Falmouth Town Council.

The recommendation is that from April 1, the council will take on the operation of the toilets at the Prince of Wales Pier, Grove Place, Castle Beach, Gyllyngvase, Maenporth and Swanpool, by means of a leasehold or freehold transfer, with a six-month break clause.

Both options are subject to a full grant, capital improvements post transfer, including looking at using “grey water,” recycled from other uses to help cut costs.

The town council will also be free to find commercial advertising support.

The council also agreed to look into the options around maintaining, removing or adapting charging at the Prince of Wales Pier and Grove Place facilities.

The other option is to allow Cornwall Council to continue running the toilets. However, this would not address “the charging regime, quality issues, seasonal opening and was reliant on no future service reductions by Cornwall Council.”

Councillors unanimously decided to write back to Cornwall Council formally expressing their decision that selected councillors would be charged with getting the best deal for the town, with the aim of keeping charges as low as possible or, if possible totally free.