MORE than a penny will need to be spent to return Swindon's public toilets to good order.

A report by the borough's public toilets task group demands the introduction of a community scheme to flush out widespread vandalism.

It is not a statutory requirement to provide public toilets but the council allocates around £150,000 each year to keep 23 sites open.

However, of those sites six have been closed because of graffiti or criminal damage, and only one toilet is left open in the evening.

Tonight the task force will present the findings of their report to the environment and leisure overview committee and ask if pop-up toilets could be installed in Fleet Street.

Reading Council has already installed Urilift urinals in the town centre in a bid to curb people using the street as a toilet.

But the main recommendation of the task group is the creation of a community toilet scheme based upon a model piloted by Richmond Council.

In exchange for a council subsidy businesses would open their own toilets for public use, extending the available options for shoppers caught short.

Becoming a member of the British Toilet Association is another key proposal, because at the moment only one member of staff is responsible for all of Swindon's toilets.

The task group's A Matter of Convenience argues that adopting schemes seen in Richmond and Reading would make the town more attractive to visitors.

Task group chairman Coun Michael Bray said the meeting would be a chance to address an issue that has been overlooked for several years.

Coun Bray (Con, Freshbrook and Grange Park) said: "We have been surprised by the strength of feeling in relation to this issue.

"Our toilets are a matter of significant inconvenience in terms of location, accessibility and condition, which impacts upon public health, the image of the town and limits the quality of life for many people.

"For Swindon to become a major leisure destination, our public toilets must meet the standard expected by service users."

As well as detailing possible improvements, the task group make it clear that some toilets, such as the block in Victoria Road, are no longer fit to be open.

Toilets in Evelyn Street in Old Town, Rodbourne Road in Cheney Manor, at West Swindon District Centre and in Dorcan Way must also be considered for closure.

The report also adds that toilets currently closed should remain closed.

In August last year, Penhill councillor David Glaholm called for pop-up toilets to be installed in the town centre to stop drinkers urinating in the street.

Calne-based company Healthmatic have already installed their pop-up urinals in Reading, London, Durham and Belfast.

Managing director Roger Berry said the urinals cost about £27,500 to buy and another £6,000 to install.