PENARTH Council may abolish the penny-in-the-slot charge at all ladies’ and gents public toilets throughout the town following a recent committee recommendation.

Members were told that it would cost £40 to replace a worn lock at the toilet on the Esplanade and the surveyor Mr J.B. Parsons, reported that locks at other toilets would shortly have to be replaced as well.

He agreed that £40 seemed a large amount for one lock, but explained that this was due to the complications of the coin-operated mechanism.

He said they also needed a considerable degree of maintenance.

Cllr Barrie Barker said: “I have always felt that it is ludicrous to make a charge for this. It is a service to the public.”

The committee recommended that existing coin-operated locks should not be replaced as they wear out in the future.

ONLY 13,919 Campbell’s steamers passengers used Penarth Pier this year, compared with 25,000 last year, Penarth Council’s Finance Committee were told on Monday.

Treasurer Mr W.T. David said: “This was the poorest season since the service was recommended in 1946 and, in fact, at any time according to my records.”

He said that it was probable the Severn Bridge had attracted patrons of the White Funnel Fleet to tour the West Country by coach.

The council decided to charge P. and A. Campbell Ltd. £200 for compounded tolls - the same amount as in the past four years.

THE triangular shaped piece of land, formerly the site of the council-run putting green at the junction of Cliff Road and Cliff Parade, has been valued by the District Valuer at £2,750.

The land is owned by Plymouth Estates, whose application to develop it was refused by Glamorgan County Council.

Now the owners have taken steps which may lead to the ground being bought by Penarth Council.

LABOUR drew its top people to the town on the occasion of the Cardiff South-East constituency Labour Party annual dinner in Penarth last week.

Chairman, Mrs Kathleen Evans described the occasion as “reaching the dizzy heights.”

The Ministers were George Brown (Foreign Affairs), James Callaghan (Chancellor), and George Thomas (Commonwealth Office).