A NUMBER of Oxford’s public toilets are facing closure this winter as part of plans to save £50,000 a year.

Oxford City Council has launched a two-month consultation into proposals, with up to 11 of the city’s 27 facilities under threat.

The executive board met to discuss the cuts yesterday, although council leader Bob Price said he only expected to have to close “two or three” of the city’s public toilets to make the necessary savings.

Mr Price said: “We are trying to get as much feedback as possible about what people think of the facilities. We just need to identify the ones which are most appropriate for closure.”

As part of its plan, the council is also looking to spend up to £500,000 upgrading facilities at Gloucester Green in the city centre and to charge users between 20p and 50p. Charges may also be introduced at some other toilets.

It is also investigating a community toilet scheme — under which local businesses open their toilets to the public — and carrying out minor refurbishments to a number of other facilities.

Public toilets in Castle Street, Magdalen Street, St Giles’, Woodstock Road, South Parade, Barns Road, Littlemore, Knights Road and Headington Hill are all under threat of being sold off or demolished. Facilities in Abingdon Road and Wolvercote could also be closed during the winter.

John Tanner, pictured, executive board member for a cleaner, greener Oxford, said: “Because the council is strapped for cash, we are looking to make savings in every area.

“We want to ask the public about a package of proposals to close some public toilets and improve the quality of others.

“We want to know what residents, students and tourists think before we make any decisions.

“I think a comfortable, quality toilet at Gloucester Green, closing the Castle Street loo, introducing a community toilet scheme, and maybe charging for some toilets, makes sense.

“We will save taxpayers’ money and make spending a penny in Oxford a more enjoyable experience.” In a report to councillors, Philip Dunsdon, of the council’s City Works, said many of the city’s public toilets were “underused, abused, neglected and attracted vandalism and anti-social behaviour”, including graffiti, indecent acts, drugs and rough sleeping, while at least 13 of them required major refurbishment.

Liberal Democrat group opposition leader David Rundle said public toilets in the city needed to be upgraded, but added he had serious concerns over the extent of the proposed closures.

He said: “We don’t want to see Oxford’s loos going down the pan, but it seems to me the cuts outweigh the gains in this report.

“We need an engaging and strategic consultation — major changes must not be pushed through without a proper debate.”

Tony Joyce, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said he felt the report was “fairly sensible” but criticised the council for holding a consultation in the summer. He also criticised the idea of permanently closing facilities in St Giles’ and Magdalen Street. He said that toilets in the city centre needed to be positioned at regular intervals,.