Campaigners keen to protect the future of Lake Slipway public toilets, are urging residents to attend the next Parish Council meeting tomorrow evening (Wednesday at 7.30pm).
Back in March, a massive discount was offered by the cleaning company on the 2016/17 bill, meaning the Lake toilets could be kept open this year.
However, with cuts to funding from the Isle of Wight council (a knock-on effect of Government cuts), the parish council has to now think about how they will fund the cleaning contract in 2017/18.
At a recent meeting the parish council agreed to consult with residents over this summer on the subject.
Future ‘back in doubt’
Campaigners have been attending parish council meetings in the past months and have expressed concern that, in their view, not all members of the parish council seem to be working together to ensure the toilets remain open, but with the least impact on residents.
They say the new chairman, Cllr Gerald White, has repeatedly tried to shut down any discussion on the matter.
Disharmony disputed
Clerk for the council, Mike Taplin, told OnTheWight,
“I have not detected anything other than a common purpose amongst council members in going forward.”
Alternative quotes
The Clerk confirmed the parish council had agreed to seek competitive tenders for locking/unlocking and cleaning in 2017-18.
However, campaigners say they’ve obtained a quote from another cleaning company which claims a much better job on all three toilets in Lake can be done and that the precept would only need to rise by approx £2 per resident per year.
They say if the current contractor continues, the precept could rise by as much as £5 per resident.
Where and when
The meeting takes place on Wednesday (13th) at 7.30pm at Broadlea Primary School (former Lake Middle School), Newport Road, Lake.
