VALE residents have slammed the ‘revolting’ state of the county’s public toilets – and are split about plans to charge for them.

Just under half – 49 per cent – of people who responded to a Vale of Glamorgan Council consultation said they would be willing to pay to use the toilets – while 51 per cent said they would not.

More than a third – 38 per cent – of the 1,040 people who responded said they would be willing to pay 10p, while 47 per cent said they would cough up 20p.

Just two per cent said they would be willing to pay £1 to use a public toilet.

People told the council to improve the cleanliness of the public toilets and modernise the facilities.

The council is set to consider the possibility of charging for toilets and possible refurbishments.

One person who responded to the consultation said “some of the toilets are revolting.

“For example, I use the toilets in Porthkerry Park when either out for a run or walk and they are in serious need of refurbishment, the ones in western shelter are the same, I went in there the other day and couldn’t find a toilet cubicle with a working lock.”

Another person who responded said: “We need more toilets and particularly accessible ones; lack of facilities actually causes me to not use the Vale shops as much as I once did.

“Many retailers do not allow the public to use their toilet facilities unless you are a paying customer – why not offer a slight reduction in their business rates if they operate a free public toilet in their premises?”

Another said: “Please don’t take away free toilet provision. It discriminated against women and those with young children. I cannot bear the thought of my child – or God forbid myself – having an accident while scrabbling round for a 10p.”

Another member of the public who responded said the female town centre toilets in Penarth “are a disgrace” and “visitors will be appalled”.

But they said: “Those at the Cliff Top and on the Pier are clean, fresh and well maintained. I last visited these during the summer. Those in the town need a thorough overhaul. Decor and cleanliness are shocking. Makes you think twice about using them.”

Some also praised  the toilet facilities in the Vale.

One responder said: “The toilet facilities are well kept. Voluntary donations, linked directly to the management of the toilets might help reduce the financial implications to the tax payer.”

Another said: “The toilets I currently use are clean and tidy. I would not like to see the toilets becoming paid toilets as I normally don’t carry cash on me, it would deter me from using the parks and beaches if I knew I'd had to pay as I would go near free facilities.”