A TOWN COUNCIL claims the district authority is trying to pass on responsibility for services the town simply can’t afford to run.

Richmond Town Council is preparing to avert the possible closure of public toilets in the town, after Richmondshire District Council suggested the permanent and seasonal closure of several toilet blocks in the town.

The alternative would be for the town council to run the four public conveniences, but town councillor Bob White said such a proposal is far too expensive for a town council budget.

The district council is also looking at passing on responsibility for maintenance of a dozen play parks in the town and the maintenance of Friary Gardens in the town centre.

Similar suggestions have been made to other parish and town councils across the Richmondshire district.

Hambleton District Council has already handed over running of its conveniences to town and parish councils in the district.

Coun White said not only was running of the ammenities beyond their budget, but they didn’t have the maintenance staff needed, pushing the running costs up further.

“It’s completely unworkable for a parish or town council to run their own public toilets,” he said.

“We would have to put our precept up and the district council is keeping their precept down.

“They’re also telling us to take responsibility for 12 playgrounds and for the flowers and shrubs at Friary Gardens.”

The town council has come up with its own solution to the proposed closure of toilets in the town. It suggests going ahead with the closure of the Victoria Road conveniences and using the money saved to keep ones open at Ronaldshay Park, Fosse and Nuns Close.

But Richmondshire District Council leader, Councillor John Blackie, said the district council had been told by central government to make savings of £735,000, or increase its income.

The district council believes it can save in the region of £57,000 by passing on responsibility for public conveniences.

Coun Blackie said: “There’s a number of playgrounds in Richmond - about a dozen - all owned and operated by the district council and there are some other open spaces that the district council maintains. That’s a disproportionate amount of the council’s budget spent on Richmond at the expense of other communities in Richmondshire.

“Whilst we don’t want to make cuts, we want to be sure there is an equality of services across the district.”