Dominic ChessumA special meeting of Swaffham Town Council will be held in January so it can make a decision on what to do about the town's only public toilets.In October, the council voted to investigate whether it would be more cost-effective to close the toilets, which are next to the old tourist information office on Market Place, and pay businesses in the town to open their loos up to passers-by.Dominic Chessum

A special meeting of Swaffham Town Council will be held in January so it can make a decision on what to do about the town's only public toilets.

In October, the council voted to investigate whether it would be more cost-effective to close the toilets, which are next to the old tourist information office on Market Place, and pay businesses in the town to open their loos up to passers-by.

A working group is looking into the issue and 20 businesses in the town have been contacted to see if they would be willing to participate.

The move has caused anger among many in Swaffham who say closing the toilets would be to the town's detriment as it would deter visitors.

At the council's monthly meeting on Wednesday, councillors decided the issue was so important they would hold an extraordinary public meeting on January 13 to look at it.

As a result, the council's first full council meeting of 2010 will now be held a week later, on January 20.

Mayor David Harman told Wednesday's meeting: "The town council requests that the public toilets working group should be allowed the courtesy of carrying out the task set them by the town council.

"It is appreciated that there are strong opinions on the subject, not in the least of these have been aired in correspondence received either directly or via the local press.

"The resident population who live and work in the town, our business community and our visitors should be assured that all comments will be taken into account."

He added: "The public toilets will not be closed in advance of putting in place a community toilet scheme."