CAMBORNE could lose its parks, recreation ground and its library if it is forced to take over town centre toilets, a meeting heard last night.
The town council has been urged to do a U-turn on its recent decision not to take over Gurney's Lane public conveniences.
Members agreed to take over the running of Rosewarne car park and Camborne Recreation Ground public conveniences from Cornwall Council last month.
But the authority said it could not afford to keep Gurney's Lane toilets open and they will shut on April 1.
The yearly running and management cost of Rosewarne car park and Camborne Recreation Ground toilets is estimated to be £18,000 while Gurney's Lane toilets are estimated to cost the authority £20,000 in the future.
Last night Camborne Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District (BID) and the Regeneration Forum urged the council to reverse "this perverse and short-sighted decision".
Talking at the meeting BID chairman George Le Hunt, said: "It is ridiculous to close these toilets. This is a huge opportunity for the council to get some good deals on cleaning if you spoke to other parishes."
The organisations and Mebyon Kernow councillors Mike Champion and Stuart Cullimore, who failed to attend the meeting where the closure decision was made, said they wanted to rescind the previous decision.
Cllr Cullimore said: "Many people want to keep the toilets open; it is a long way to walk to the car park if you want to use the toilets.
"We should take them on and look at how we can do it. I am sure we could do it cheaper."
And cllr Champion said: "The only toilets that are under threat are Gurney's Lane. This council decided to pay for something that Cornwall Council was going to fund anyway and that's why I am up in arms about this."
But a recent letter from Cornwall Council's Cabinet member for transportation, highways and environment, Bert Biscoe, stated that toilets that are not devolved will be at risk of closure.
Cllr Jeff Collins suggested Camborne Chamber of Commerce could help and sponsor the toilets.
He said: "But I got a blank from them. We have a situation where it's okay sending letters like this but it would be handy if the chamber put its money where its mouth is. The chamber, BID and the Regeneration Forum are all jumping on the bandwagon saying this and that, it's a pity they want to leave it with us."
During the heated debate, Camborne mayor Jean Charman used for the first time in ten years a rule which required all members to be seated and silent.
Cllr Charman also said the recent letter from Mr Biscoe clearly points to the fact that Cornwall Council intends closing all toilets.
She said: "Those councillors who will be voting to rescind at the next meeting need to understand that by making this decision we could lose funding for the refurbishment on the two toilets we elected to keep.
"Any funding to refurbish Gurney's Lane is now in doubt.
"The upkeep of the three toilets would cost Camborne Town Council approximately £40,000, this would leave us in the position of not being able to pay for other services that Cornwall Council may not be funding such as the parks, recreation ground and the library.
"It could be that in the near future we have to fund the library, what do people in the town want: Gurney's Lane toilets or the library?"
The toilets will be discussed again at the meeting of the full council.
The town council has been urged to do a U-turn on its recent decision not to take over Gurney's Lane public conveniences.
Members agreed to take over the running of Rosewarne car park and Camborne Recreation Ground public conveniences from Cornwall Council last month.
But the authority said it could not afford to keep Gurney's Lane toilets open and they will shut on April 1.
The yearly running and management cost of Rosewarne car park and Camborne Recreation Ground toilets is estimated to be £18,000 while Gurney's Lane toilets are estimated to cost the authority £20,000 in the future.
Last night Camborne Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District (BID) and the Regeneration Forum urged the council to reverse "this perverse and short-sighted decision".
Talking at the meeting BID chairman George Le Hunt, said: "It is ridiculous to close these toilets. This is a huge opportunity for the council to get some good deals on cleaning if you spoke to other parishes."
The organisations and Mebyon Kernow councillors Mike Champion and Stuart Cullimore, who failed to attend the meeting where the closure decision was made, said they wanted to rescind the previous decision.
Cllr Cullimore said: "Many people want to keep the toilets open; it is a long way to walk to the car park if you want to use the toilets.
"We should take them on and look at how we can do it. I am sure we could do it cheaper."
And cllr Champion said: "The only toilets that are under threat are Gurney's Lane. This council decided to pay for something that Cornwall Council was going to fund anyway and that's why I am up in arms about this."
But a recent letter from Cornwall Council's Cabinet member for transportation, highways and environment, Bert Biscoe, stated that toilets that are not devolved will be at risk of closure.
Cllr Jeff Collins suggested Camborne Chamber of Commerce could help and sponsor the toilets.
He said: "But I got a blank from them. We have a situation where it's okay sending letters like this but it would be handy if the chamber put its money where its mouth is. The chamber, BID and the Regeneration Forum are all jumping on the bandwagon saying this and that, it's a pity they want to leave it with us."
During the heated debate, Camborne mayor Jean Charman used for the first time in ten years a rule which required all members to be seated and silent.
Cllr Charman also said the recent letter from Mr Biscoe clearly points to the fact that Cornwall Council intends closing all toilets.
She said: "Those councillors who will be voting to rescind at the next meeting need to understand that by making this decision we could lose funding for the refurbishment on the two toilets we elected to keep.
"Any funding to refurbish Gurney's Lane is now in doubt.
"The upkeep of the three toilets would cost Camborne Town Council approximately £40,000, this would leave us in the position of not being able to pay for other services that Cornwall Council may not be funding such as the parks, recreation ground and the library.
"It could be that in the near future we have to fund the library, what do people in the town want: Gurney's Lane toilets or the library?"
The toilets will be discussed again at the meeting of the full council.
