A BID to reopen ten public toilets closed to cut costs has faltered after failing to win councillors' backing.

Weymouth and Port-land's environment and conservation committee chairman, Coun Jim Churchouse said councillors could vote to reopen the toilets, but would need to decide where the money could be found.

Coun Andy Hutchings proposed that toilets throughout the borough be reopened but admitted he had no idea where the money would come from.

Coun Churchouse said: "Next year will be a horrendous year for us finding money.

"We all want the toilets reopened, of course we do, but until we know where the money's going to come from we're banging our heads against a brick wall.

"It took a lot of heart searching when we made the original decision to close the toilets, but we had such serious financial problems we had to do something desperate.

"Though the situation is now a little bit better we have still got a long way to go to overcome our financial difficulties."

No guarantees

Coun Hutchings tried to win support for reopening the toilets at shopping centres at Southill and Littlemoor in Weymouth and Southwell on Portland but director of environmental services Richard Burgess pointed out that even re-opening those three for the rest of the financial year would cost £12,000 and there was no guarantee they would be able to stay open in the following financial year.

Further costs would be incurred in complying with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Coun Les Ames and Coun Tim Munro suggested the closed toilets became the subjects of partnerships where businesses could get involved in their running and upkeep.

Councillors agreed that a group should be set up to look further into the possibility of partnership funding to report back to the next committee meeting.

Coun Churchouse said if any businesses or entrepreneurs were able to come forward with suggestions on how to keep the toilets open he would be more than happy to listen.

Two petitions were submitted to the council since toilets at Abbotsbury Road, Littlemoor, Nothe Parade, Old Castle Road, Pleasure Pier, Princess Diana Gardens, Upwey, Southwell, Southill and Victoria Gardens closed, calling for them to reopen. Toilets at Upwey, Nothe Walk and Princess Diana Gardens are not usually open in winter.