A VETERAN councillor has complained about the proposed closure of town centre public toilets as part of budget cuts.

Darlington Borough Council is intending to close the East Row toilets, in the market square, next year.

However, Conservative councillor Bill Stenson said hewould be opposing the plans, which will save the council £18,000 in the first year and £38,000 thereafter.

He said: "I'm not very happy about the council closing the toilets in the market square. For what they are going to save on the toilets, it's sacrilege. We have no toilets left.

"For all the time I've been on the council, I've never known only one toilet in the town centre and now they are going to shut it."

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said: "A ll budget proposals have been published for public consultation over the coming months. We welcome feedback on all proposals which will be taken into consideration as part of this process."

The proposals will be first debated by the cabinet group on Tuesday, in the town hall.

There will also be a public consultation process including various public meetings before the decisions are finalised early next year.