by Sam Lennon

slennon@thekmgroup.co.uk

A key public toilet in Ashford town centre has been saved from closure.

The New Rents site has been spared after fears that the shutdown could add another burden to the town's struggling economy.

Plans to include it among 14 public toilet shutdowns in the borough led to a wave of public protest.

The decision to keep the New Rents toilets open was taken by the borough council's cabinet on Thursday night.

Council leader Peter Wood (Con) said: "There is concern about the role the New Rents public convenience plays in the town centre and retail trade and about its social role so consequently we will not be closing it."

But the cabinet agreed to go ahead with the closure of the other 13 toilets, including three in the Tenterden area and the Bybrook Cemetery toilets.

Three of the dommed toilets are automatic ones in the town centre, which are considered under-used and costly.

The public will be given the option of using alternative town centre toilets such as Park Mall and Gateway Plus.

The council also offered another helping hand to the local economy - free parking in council car parks on Saturday, December 17, one of the key Christmas shopping dates.

This is on top of the free parking already offered on the last three Sundays before Christmas

Cllr Wood said: "The cabinet considers the town centre to be one of the most important elements of the local economy.

"We should do all we can to help retailers, particularly because there is another recession on the horizon."

Full report on the toilet closure debate in the Kentish Express next week.