Many times in recent months I have been amazed at the actions of Cornwall Council – but this week they really have been taking the pee.
The decision to cut funding for 114 of the county’s 248 public toilets is the most staggering example of short-sighted stupidity I have witnessed since the captain of the Titanic decided to go “full steam ahead” through icy waters to save ten minutes on his journey time.
Cornwall’s economy relies on tourism – and to ensure that industry continues to thrive it is essential to provide the best experience possible for visitors.
Sadly, most people’s idea of a fantastic holiday does not revolve around hunting for hours to find a loo for their screaming children or cross-legged granny.
Now the council has claimed it needs to save £1.3million from its budget by changing the way it funds these toilets – and yet is willing to put aside £150,000 to fund the Olympic torch relay through the county, and to hand another £50,000 of taxpayers’ money over to Plymouth for its doomed bid to bring the World Cup to the city.
There are other areas of spending idiocy I could highlight – the extravagant use of company cars for one – that could surely have been changed in order to keep these toilets open.
The authority has kindly said town and parish councils could take over the funding – but has failed to explain where they can find the money to do so.
It would mean a council tax rise from the smaller authorities to pay for something that was previously funded by our council tax payments to Cornwall Council – a bit like changing energy suppliers only to discover you have to keep paying both bills.
It is yet another example of the out-of-touch attitude at New County Hall – and I’m not sure the people of Cornwall are going to be able to take much more of it.
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