THE public toilets in Richmond Market Place are set to close in a cost-cutting exercise.

Richmondshire District Council has been asked to lop £30,000 from its public conveniences budget and closure of the town centre ladies' and gents' would save £29,000 a year in cleaning and maintenance.

There are also proposals to close the Earl's Orchard toilets to the public during the winter, saving a further £3,000. They would remain open all year for the football club's use.

The council's budget working group asked for the 10pc saving on the public toilets budget, which this year is £300,420, as part of its drive to keep council tax rises to a minimum. Officers advised the only way to achieve such large savings was to close some of the blocks.

The authority has 26 public lavatories and the Richmond Market Place ones were identified for closure because they are only 200 yards from the next nearest toilets, at the tourist information centre in Victoria Road.

Coun Sheila Clarke said the Market Place toilets were the first port of call for people getting off buses in the town. Some elderly or disabled visitors might not be able to walk to Victoria Road, she said.

Coun John Harris said the authority should have looked at charging the public to use toilets.

Martin Garside, environment unit manager, said the cost of installing coin machines and collecting the cash would eat heavily into the income from such charges.

The report referred to possible redundancies, most likely cleaners, and the need for consultation with the town council.