THREE Worcestershire town councils have joined forces to fight the proposed closure of their public toilets.

Malvern, Tenbury and Upton-upon-Severn town councils met to discuss the plan by Malvern Hills District Council to shut four public loos in the towns.

They have now written to the district council requesting a joint meeting to look at alternatives to closing the toilets in Edith Walk and the Victoria Road car park in Malvern, Market Street in Tenbury and the High Street in Upton.

Malvern Town Council chairman Coun Ralph Madden said two years ago the district council wrote to the towns asking them to take on responsibility for maintaining their toilets. The towns refused saying it was the district council's job.

"We didn't hear any more until the summer when they announced they were closing the toilets. We were told it costs £30,000 a year to clean the toilets in Malvern. This would be quite a high proportion of our budget but it is an insignificant amount for the district council with an £8m budget.

"We do not want these toilets closed. We want a solution that is acceptable to us."

In their letter to Malvern Hills the three town councils say: "We are surprised that the district council accords such a low priority to the provision of such a basic amenity, particularly in view of the importance of being attached to the regeneration of local market towns.

"There has been a lack of proper consultation with the councils and the public. No definite details have been provided on running costs including maintenance costs, nor has an estimate been provided of the range of costs to update and upgrade the toilets."

Malvern Hills District Council is due to discuss the toilets on Wednesday, December 14.