Council chiefs have been accused of reneging on a deal to help keep open a town’s public toilets.

Kirklees Council closed most of the district’s conveniences earlier this year in a bid to save money.

Toilets in New Mill, Holme, Marsh, Milnsbridge, Slaithwaite, Marsden, Honley, Batley, Birstall and Heckmondwike were all shut down.

Mirfield’s toilets in Station Road were reprieved when Mirfield Town Council offered to take them on.

Since March, town councillors have been locked in negotiations with Kirklees officials over a lease for the building.

Talks have reached stalemate and now Kirklees has landed the town council with a bill for £4,500.

The council says that if the cost of cleaning, water and electricity is not paid immediately – a sum of almost £3,000 – the toilets will close on November 22.

Town councillors, who set aside £10,000 in this year’s budget for the running of the toilets, believed that Kirklees would keep paying for the toilets until an agreement was signed with the town council.

Clr Martyn Bolt, who serves on both Mirfield and Kirklees councils, said town councillors were angry at the “retrospective” charge.

“The town council had agreed that while discussions were on-going Kirklees Council would keep the toilets open and pay all the costs,” he said.

“Now Kirklees seems like it is reneging on that agreement.”

Clr Bolt said the lease offered to the town council was very one-sided, forcing all responsibilities for repair and maintenance on the town council.

“If we had agreed this lease it would have been like signing a blank cheque,” said Clr Bolt.

“Signing this lease would have had a disastrous effect on town council finances.

“Three hundred people signed a petition to keep the toilets open and that is what the town council is trying to do.

“The town needs its public toilets. They are an important local facility.”

Kirklees has demanded £2,365.61 for cleaning costs, £204.59 for water and £288.12 for electricity and wants payment now. A further £1,663.20 in business rates is also due.

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “Discussions have been taking place between Mirfield Town Council and Kirklees Council since March regarding the takeover of the costs and running of Mirfield toilets following the Kirklees Council decision to either close them or let community groups and others take them on at no cost to the council.

“No service level agreement regarding cleaning has been signed or returned by Mirfield Town Council despite verbal and written requests and utility bills, cleansing costs and business rates have also remain unpaid.

“Mirfield Town Council, whilst eligible for small business relief, has still to register with Customer and Exchequer Services to ensure this can be awarded, otherwise the town council will be liable for the payment of these business rates.

“The council is requesting that the total outstanding costs be paid in full (with the exception of the business rates if the town council can demonstrate eligibility for small business relief).

“In the meantime the toilets will be closed from November 22 unless service level agreements are signed and utility bills paid.

“The council is keen to work with the town council to resolve these matters.”