THE GROUP given the task of running Bye Street toilets has closed them until further notice, because of vandalism.

Now questions are being asked as whether the loos should re-open and who should foot the bill.

Richard Hadley, a member of the Love Ledbury group which took on the running of the loos from Herefordshire Council in 2014, said it was now time to "take stock" and decide what the future of the toilets should be.

He said: "This is an opportunity to say to the town, do you want these loos kept open? Is the town prepared to pay for them, as Herefordshire Council cannot. Let us know.

"Should the traders pay for them, or the town council, or a combination of these things. How far are we willing to dig into our pockets to keep them open?"

This isn't the first time that Love Ledbury has appealed for help to keep Bye Street toilets open.

In June, Love Ledbury representative Cllr Liz Harvey was subjected to tough questioning and resistance when she asked Ledbury Town Council for funding for Bye Street toilets.

Love Ledbury asked the town council to take on the toilets in the next financial year, which could cost the council tax payer around £10,000 per annum.

Speaking at the June meeting, Cllr Harvey said: "I'm disappointed that there is no offer of financial support in the meantime, to assist Love Ledbury with the running cost of the loos in this financial year."

But some town councillors were concerned that two years on from its formation, Love Ledbury was still not a registered charity.

And in October, the town council formally asked the Love Ledbury group for an "end of grant report" to Ledbury Town Council, because some grant funding had still not been spent.

The town council gave a grant of £7400 to Love Ledbury in 2014, to help the group run and look after Bye Street toilets, including the installation of the pay-locks.

Speaking after the toilets were closed because of vandalism, Ledbury's mayor, Cllr Debbie Baker, said the question of the town council taking on the Bye Street loos was "a difficult one".

She said: "We are being asked to take on more and more from Herefordshire Council, from grass-cutting to potholes, and these are things that taxpayers have already paid for.

"More and more, people are asking, why should we pay twice?"

Cllr Baker revealed that a a town council working party was looking into the idea of taking on Bye Street toilets.

But she added: "We are not saying we will. We want to have firm costings before we make any decision."

The other toilet block in Ledbury, in Church Lane, is still run by Herefordshire Council.

West Mercia Police have confirmed that it received a report of vandalism at Bye Street toilets, last week.

A police spokesman said: "We have received reports of vandalism to the public toilets on Bye Street, believed to have been caused overnight on 31 October/ November 1.

"Officers have visited the scene and identified that damage has been caused to the toilet locks and flower pots."

The police spokesman added: "Reassurance patrols have been conducted in the area and police would like to hear from any members of the local community who witnessed suspicious behaviour in the area on the evening of Monday October 31."

The incident reference is 180s of November 1, and anyone with information should phone police on the 101 number.