An Aberaeron town councillor has said she would back the introduction of a 20p charge for the use of public toilets provided such facilities would be properly maintained.

During a discussion on Ceredigion County Council’s public consultation on public toilets, Cllr Diana Mace slammed the state of the loos near Aberaeron’s Tourist Information Centre.

“Those toilets are disgusting – if I was a tourist I wouldn’t want to use them,” she told colleagues.

“How do you feel about charging people to use local toilets,” town mayor Cllr Elizabeth Evans asked.

“If a charge of 20p would improve the quality of these toilets then, yes, I would,” replied Cllr Mace.

Cllr Evans said she felt it was important for the town council – who fund one of the town’s toilet blocks – to respond to the consultation.

“My fear is that if we go under the radar they might decide to close some,” she explained.

“The county council are looking for someone to take over the North Beach toilets on a lease and it’s vital that we protect those at Castle Lane and the TIC.”

Cllr Rhodri Jones agreed it was vital that toilets were maintained in a tourist town such as Aberaeron.