Cornwall Council consults on withdrawing grant for Porthcothan beach toilets

The public toilets situated near a popular beach in north Cornwall face potential closure, as Cornwall Council has initiated a consultation regarding their future. Residents of Porthcothan, located near Padstow, are concerned that visitors might resort to using the sand dunes as a toilet if an annual £10,000 grant from Cornwall Council is discontinued. St Eval Parish Council has indicated that it would be unable to operate the toilets without the aforementioned grant. Cornwall Council’s consultation addresses both the grant and the future of the car park, including proposals to transfer its management to an arms-length business and a private enforcement firm. The authority, Cornwall Council, stated that it is compelled to explore various strategies to balance its budget. The parish council, however, expressed its willingness to undertake the management of the car park, suggesting that profits generated could be used to fund the toilet operations. Parish councillor Mary Neale commented: “The prospect for 2025 is a crowded beach with no public toilets.” She added: “People will be defecating in the dunes, the caves and the sea – meanwhile the council gets all the money from the car park.” For the past two years, the parish council has received a £10,000 grant from Cornwall Council, contributing to the £13,000 annual cost of maintaining the beach toilets. Mick Baker, vice-chairman of the parish council, stated: “The cost of the toilets could be offset from the car park but without that and with Cornwall Council pulling the grant they give us, looking after the toilets is too much expense for us.” John Robinson, a trustee for Porthcothan Bay’s sand dunes, expressed his concern: “We are desperately trying to get them [the sand dunes] regenerated and if people start defecating and all the rest of it in the dunes, it’s going to be a disaster.” A spokesperson for Cornwall Council issued a statement: “Due to increased demand and rising costs of many of the services we provide for our residents, we are having to look at different ways to help balance our budget for the coming year.”