Kington's toilets are the worst in the county, a county councillor has claimed

Herefordshire County Councillor Terry James said the town’s public toilets at Place De Marines and the Market Hall are ‘appalling and disgusting’.

“I have had walkers and tourists come to me and say that they have been all over the county and Kington’s toilets are the worst they have seen,” Councillor James told the town council at a meeting last week.

“It is doing damage to the reputation of this town, it’s bad for the tourists that come here and for people that need toilets.

“It needs something to be done. You are talking about a lot of things tonight but nothing that does as much damage to the reputation of tourism in this town.”

Kington Mayor Councillor Phillip Sell said at the moment the town council has no responsibility for the toilets but the Environment Committee has discussed it previously.

“I would like to put it on the agenda for the next meeting, because having the worst toilets in the county in our town is quite important,” said Councillor Bob Widdowson.

“Why are they in such a state, and are we eventually going to consider following the other market towns and take them on ourselves?” he added.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “The council owns these toilets and they are cleaned through our partner Hoople. Neither the council or Hoople have received any formal complaints regarding the toilets. They are opened each day at 7am and cleaned and replenished every evening, and every issue is responded to accordingly. Monthly audits are also carried out by Hoople and any quality concerns are taken up by them with their cleaner.”

 Meanwhile, Chairman of the Chamber of Trade Emma Hancocks said there were also comments about the town looking particularly dirty at the moment from a chamber member.

Councillor Sell said they have also received comments from a member of the public about it and they are working with the people that should be sweeping the streets to improve things.

Ms Hancocks said the blocked drains last week were also an issue as many of them are filled with soil and debris and water from last week’s storm almost got into the town’s museum because the drains were full.

The town council agreed to chase up the blocked drains issue.