KNUTSFORD’S public toilets have cost the tax payer almost £30,000 more than they should have done since they were refurbished two years ago due to a lack of users.

According to the business plan put forward by Cheshire East Council the toilets situated on Bexton Road and King Street should have made the council £18,215 revenue each year.

However, the latest figures have shown that the toilets, costing 20p per entrance, have only made £9,700 in the 26-month period, instead of a budgeted £39,464, a difference of £29,764.

Cheshire East Council came up with the revenue estimate but if the current usage figures continue, that could mean that during a 25-year period the toilets could end up costing Knutsfordians more than £340,000 than they should have done.

The original business plan said the toilets would cost £907,450 over the 25-year period, but this news means that figure is set to go up.

Knutsford Town Council told the Guardian it 'remained positive in its decision to acquire the toilets', explaining that it budgeted for a difference in figures from Cheshire East’s projections and that the usage figures do not account for disabled access.

Adam Keppel-Garner, town clerk, said: “We relied on data supplied by Cheshire East Council which was actual year round usage figures and we had no way of testing that data.

“The usage is not as high as the figures supplied but the business case still stacks up and the council budgeted appropriately.

“As a result of the transfer we now have award winning toilets for residents and the many visitors to our popular tourist town

“The main complaint we receive about public toilets is that we didn’t take over those on Northwich Road.”

At the last operations meeting on October 26, the council discussed the issue of people holding the door or twisting the lock mechanism so that others can get in after them, which may be contributing to lower ‘usage’ figures.

“Lots of people are consciously doing it,” said Cllr Stuart Gardiner.

“Danfo are now looking into it.”

Adam confirmed that the council are still waiting to hear back from Danfo (UK) ltd, who manage the services, regarding maintenance of the toilet and alternative locking mechanisms to prevent people from using the toilets for free.

The toilets were handed over to Knutsford Town Council in July 2013, with the Bexton Road block opening in September 2013 and King Street at the end of October 2013.