PLANS to close one of Weymouth’s public toilets have been criticised by councillors.

The council is set to sell off its property at 47, The Esplanade.

Part of the building is the public toilets, which are accessed via Bond Street.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s Management Committee recently met and agreed to place the property on the open market and sold.

Councillors also agreed that as part of this the public toilets in the building will be closed at the end of next month.

Councillors heard how the upper parts of the building have been empty for more than a decade and it is in a high state of disrepair, with around £40,000 needed to bring it back in to a good condition.

It is hoped this will enable the building to be brought back in to full use within the private sector as well as providing capital receipts for the council.

Cllr Jeff Cant, leader of the council, said that the site was “too far gone” and wanted to see it replaced with a café or restaurant to bring some life in to the listed building.

He also raised the issue of the smell that comes from the toilets.

However, not all councillors supported the plans.

Cllr Christine James said: “I’m not happy about wanting to close them in October when there is still events going on.

“I’d rather it was open and people didn’t do their business elsewhere, namely on the beach.”

Cllr Gill Taylor also didn’t support the closure and wanted a full review of all the town’s toilet facilities.

However, councillors also agreed to cater for the 2017 summer season using temporary facilities with £5,000 provided for the connection provision.

They also agreed to appoint an external consultant to look at options for a suitable location, draw up initial plans and obtain budget costs for the future re-provision of permanent toilet facilities in the seafront area.

Cllr Francis Drake, who owns a town centre café, was also against the plans.

He said: “The biggest problem is we don’t have enough toilets in Weymouth.

“I’m always being asked if people can use my toilets.”

Councillors James, Taylor and Drake all voted against closing the toilets and placing the property on the open market.