Residents and visitors could be forced to pay to use public toilets in Sidmouth under new district council proposals.

Residents and visitors could have to pay to use public toilets in Sidmouth under new district council proposals.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) agenda papers say the authority is planning to investigate the possibility of paid access at some ‘key sites’.

The agenda for the overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday, January 17, says that the council is completing a ‘district-wide’ review of public toilet provision.

A report will be compiled for EDDC’s asset management forum, with suggestions on how the council can reduce costs.

Introducing a toilet charge is one way the authority could do this, although the papers suggest the facilities could also be leased to businesses.

An EDDC spokeswoman said: “We have undertaken a review of all of our public toilets to look at ways in which we can continue to provide this important but discretionary service.

“We will be running a consultation with town and parish councils in the spring to ask for their input into our ideas.”