Villagers have voted to reopen a block of public toilets after they were shut due to “financial reasons”.

The facilities on Pitfield Green in Meopham, opposite the cricket green, closed at the start of April.

Explaining the parish council’s decision, Paul Watson said: “In December, we set the 2024/25 budget and the decision was taken to close the toilets mainly on financial grounds.

“The toilets are not in great condition and to bring them up to the right standard you're probably looking up to an excess of £50,000. At the end of the day, the toilets aren’t well used.”

In 2023/24 the block cost £11,499 to run in cleaning costs and maintenance for burst pipes and other problems.

So far this year, the council has spent £1,264.80 per month which means it is likely to cost £15,177 for the rest of the year.

The exact number of people who use the site is not known but a footfall counter was installed between October 2022 and March 2023 and 52 visits were recorded in that period.

Cllr Watson explained: “We absolutely accept that visits to the toilets increase over the summer months so for purposes of benchmarking the actual costs per visit of the toilets, a range of numbers were used.

“At 250 visits the cost per visit is £60.71.

“If there are 500 visits over the course of the year , the cost is £30.35 each time. If it is assumed that there are two visits per day, every day of the week (728 visits a year) the cost is £20.84.

At a parish meeting on May 17, a poll was proposed by elector Max Bramer for the parish council to reopen the public toilets.

The poll, which took place yesterday, had a 11.42% turnout, with 605 votes cast – with one spoiled ballot paper.

Of those 604 valid ballot papers, 569 were votes supporting the reopening of the Pitfield Green toilets and 35 were against it.

Cllr Watson says the estimated cost to run the poll was between £10,000 and £15,000.

A spokesperson for Meopham Parish Council said: “Although the result of the parish poll is not binding upon the parish council, the council will now seek definitive quotes for the costs involved in reopening the toilets and look at the availability of grant funding to this end.

“These quotes will include the costs of bringing the building into line with current health and safety requirements, and building requirements, as well as negotiating new contracts for the servicing and maintenance of the facility and the drainage system.

“The matter will then be considered again at a full council meeting which will be open to parishioners to attend.”