LANGLEY MILL train station could be left without toilet facilities after a spate of vandalism at the nearest public conveniences on Milnhay Road.
Amber Valley Borough Council has already spent £50,000 refurbishing the toilets and £20,000 repairing them following vandalism.
Now the authority has asked Aldercar and Langley Mill Parish Council to take responsibility for them because it has a
nother repair bill – this time for £10,000.
But the parish says it doesn’t have the expense planned into its budget and has refused to take on responsibility for the public conveniences.
Peter Carney, the council’s chief executive said: “The council hasn’t decided to close them for good.
“We hoped more local management could have solved the problem but I understand the parish council has declined that.
“The decision will now go to a full council meeting to decide the future of the site – but it is costing a lot of money at the moment.”
Sheena Trower, the parish council clerk, said: “The toilets are currently the responsibility of Amber Valley Borough Council.
“They wanted our council to take them over otherwise they would be closed.
“The parish council does not have the staff or funds to maintain the toilets – the precept has already been agreed and these toilets are not in the budget.
“Everybody appreciates the vandalism problem – the toilets lock automatically at the end of the day but youngsters have been blocking the door open.
“People are paying their council tax for facilities and this is an important facility for disabled people and passengers at the train station.
“We would like the council to reconsider and have a daily manual visit to combat the problems.
“Obviously this could be difficult as they have these problems in every parish but we have a population of 5,000 and rising and his important facility is being taken away.”
