“Bully boy tactics” will not deter bidders to reopen and run the closed toilets at East Cliff.

Former Mayor Sue Jones and her business partner Ross Miller say they will not give up hope of running the toilets, and shop, despite failing to win support from the town council.

Mr Miller said the council’s refusal to back them was disappointing and smacked of “school playground bully boy tactics”.

He said: “Once again our town councillors seem to have forgotten their purpose, which is to serve the residents.”

Cllr Jones said she was confused by the council’s decision, but insisted: “Of course we will be submitting another expression of interest in running the toilets and the concession.”

Councillors held a special meeting to discuss whether to allow the bid, by the partners’ Pebbles Community Interest company – the only proposal on the table.

One other had been withdrawn and a third never materialised.

Despite almost unanimous calls from councillors and the public to open the toilets as soon as possible, they voted to ask the town clerk, Allison Burton, to research the options for the council to run the toilets until the tender can be re-advertised.

That means the toilets will not be open this summer season, and possibly not for the rest of the year.

Cllr Jones said Pebbles was set up to promote various projects designed to attract more people to the town, and they were having talks about other initiatives.

For the full story and a full report on the town council meeting, see this week's Dover Mercury, out today.