The public toilet charge at a car park in Llanidloes could soon increase before the end of the year.

The cash-only Gro car park toilets currently costs 40p to use, but town councillors have discussed increasing the fee to 50p which is the same as the toilet block near the Town Hall which accepts card payments.

Llanidloes Town Council is solely responsible for maintaining the Town Hall and Gro public toilets which have been targeted by vandalism which has cost thousands of pounds to fix and reopen in recent years.

Llanidloes Mayor Councillor Jamie Jones said the town council was running a good service on behalf of residents.

READ MORE | Anti-social behaviour prompts toilet review in Powys town

Deputy Mayor Cllr John Glyn Hughes said: "We need to be careful about what we're doing here.

"There are a tremendous amount of problems at the Gro, in particular at twilight. Cost have increased partly because of that."

Cllr Andrew Morel said he was personally not happy to up the price unless the opening hours were extended.

The Gro toilets are a 'lifeline' for disabled people, said one councillor.The Gro toilets are a 'lifeline' for disabled people, said one councillor. (Image: Anwen Parry/Powys County Times)

"The Gro is a much more used location," he said before proposing an amendment to extend the opening times to 7pm and increase cost to 50p.

Llanidloes' county councillor Glyn Preston described the toilets at the Gro as a "lifeline" for disabled people.

READ MORE | Bill to fix vandalised Llanidloes toilets will be 'substantial'

However, Councillor Graham McArthur questioned the need for two toilet blocks within 400 yards. "Let’s bring people into town since we've had these [Town Hall toilets] done up," he said.

Council clerk David Powell added that other town councils were increasing public toilet charges.

"Why should everybody put their prices up and not us?” he asked. “My view is that the council taxpayers of Llanidloes should minimise the subsidy they pay towards maintaining the toilets.

The Town Council said there will be no changes as of yet but it is anticipated the fee increase will be in place from December.