DEMANDS to fully reopen the public toilets in Caerleon led to a row erupting between Newport councillors.

Newport City Council had closed the toilets in High Street and Broadway, near the Roman amphitheatre, in February – before reopening the latter facility in June for a 12-month period.

Toilets in Caerleon’s town hall and cricket pavilion have been opened to the public but Conservative councillor Joan Watkins said current provisions are “not good enough”.

Cllr Watkins told a meeting of the council on Tuesday evening: “Both blocks of toilets in Caerleon need to be open and available on a proper basis.

“There has been some limited availability in the town hall but only when the caretaker is in residence.”

Cllr Watkins also suggested that a cabinet member post be scrapped, and associated finances diverted to covering the £20,000 cost of keeping the toilet blocks open.

But Cllr Watkins' motion asking the council to note the “public outcry” against the closures was blocked by a countermotion from the council leader.

Councillor Debbie Wilcox noted the increased opening hours of the town hall facilities and “ongoing efforts” to provide permanent facilities in Broadway.

The motion also called for the UK Government to “reverse its austerity agenda” and provide more funding to local government budgets to provide improved public facilities, including public toilets.

Cllr Wilcox added: “The state of council finances keeps many of us up at night. The money local government has for vital day to day services is running out fast.

"Councils can no longer be expected to run budgets on a shoestring."

Labour councillor Jason Hughes said the amended motion gave “clarity”, adding: “My opposition colleagues were claiming on social media to have saved the toilets in Caerleon.

“The reality is that the solution was found through hard work by my colleagues, by countless meetings and strong negotiations.”

But the amendment was met with anger from Conservative councillors, with opposition leader Cllr Matthew Evans saying: “Nobody likes austerity, but this is outrageous. You’re talking about £20,000.

“When I was leader we had a petition to keep the toilets open and we kept them open, we listened to the public. This amendment is ridiculous.”

Conservative councillor David Fouweather, in response to Cllr Hughes’ remarks, said: “You did a U-turn, and people know that.

“You can spin all you like but people know that Cllr Watkins was the one that got that job done.”

Cllr Watkins’ original motion was lost after Cllr Wilcox’s amended motion was passed after a recorded vote, with 29 in favour, 13 against and three abstentions.