SPENDING a penny while out and about in Wokingham borough may get a little bit easier as a new 'Local Loos' scheme is launched.

The scheme mirrors an operation that has been running in Richmond since 2004 and has been hailed as a way of stopping the decline in public toilets.

Councils pay private businesses up to £600 per year to make their toilets available free of charge to members of the public and not just to business users.

At a council meeting on Thursday last week environment leader Cllr Simon Weeks said: "Several of our public toilets are in poor condition because of repeated and expensive vandalism.

"I propose to implement a 'Local Loos' scheme of the type that is currently operating successfully in Richmond and a number of other areas.

"We currently operate five public toilets and I intend to negotiate with privately run organisations to deliver better public facilities which are subsidised by the council, so delivering better quality and safer facilities at a reduced cost." All the council's public toilets will be closed over time as the scheme is rolled out.

But opposition Liberal Democrats have branded it as a further example of money saving schemes.

Group leader Cllr Prue Bray said: "Road repairs are to be limited to essential works only. On-street car parking charges are coming in, and the council will be trailing switching off 1,000 street lights.

"The administration apparently intends to replace public toilets with a scheme by which local businesses allow the public to use their facilities." Last year the maintenance and upkeep of the five toilets cost the borough £51,000 including electricity, water, fixtures and fittings, and insurance.