Kintbury residents will have to pay extra to spend a penny

The conveniences, situated in Station Road, by the level crossing, were under threat of closure as part of West Berkshire Council’s plans to cut £11m from its budget by 2016.
They were due to close at the end of September, but were temporarily saved when Kintbury Parish Council agreed to pay for them to stay open until March 31, 2015.
Last month, residents were asked whether they wanted the parish council to continue to pay more than £10,000 a year to keep them open beyond March – even if it meant paying more council tax – or whether they should be permanently closed.
The public consultation got 106 responses, with 80 people in favour of keeping the toilets open, 22 against and four undecided.
At a meeting last Thursday, the parish council voted in favour of raising its precept by 10 per cent – from £50,000 to £55,000 – to help pay for the running costs of the toilets.
It means that the average council tax bill will rise by around £5 next year.
During the meeting, parish council chair Stephen Cook said that he felt the small rise was ‘justified’ given the additional cost of maintaining the loos.
Kintbury’s battle to keep its toilets open has been praised by Newbury MP Richard Benyon – who described the campaign as the “best possible example of localism in action”.
In a letter to the council, Mr Benyon said: “I was highly impressed with your council’s recent consultation to residents, asking whether they wished for the parish council to continue to fund the village’s public toilets.
“I know the prospect of closure was of great concern and I am glad this matter has been resolved.
“This is the best possible example of localism in action.”