RELIEF has been given to divers on Portland who have been given the go-ahead to run a key public toilet themselves.

Divers were furious when the only public conveniences in Castletown were closed a day before the unofficial start of their diving season over the Easter weekend.

But now they are celebrating after talks with borough councillor Tim Munro led to an agreement for island business Scimitar Diving to keep the toilets opened.

Jerome ‘Smudge’ Smith, co-owner of Scimitar Diving, said: “We had a meeting with Tim Munro and it was very productive.

“Basically what we’ve agreed is that, as a company, Scimitar Diving will take on the remaining running and cleaning costs of the Castle-town public toilets for this financial year with help from the council.

“The idea is to buy the toilets and turn them into a purpose-built disabled toilet facility, a male and female changing facility and showers for divers and fishermen.”

Mr Smith said they had now reopened the toilets and would be making plans to revamp the facility towards the end of the year.

He added: “We’ve got quite a lot to do. We’re going to do some fundraising to make it happen. We’d like to praise the council for helping.”

A borough council spokesman said: “It was decided in early 2009 to close these public toilets, however the council has been in ongoing discussions with the Castletown Residents and Business group (CRaB) who expressed an interest in taking over their running.

“The group were unable to do this and the toilets were closed at the start of the financial year on April 1.

“However, a local business, Scimitar Diving, has now agreed to take over the responsibility for running these toilets for the next 12 months, with a view to making this a permanent arrangement.”