LUDLOW’S ‘pay per loo’ plan could be live by Christmas.

Ludlow Town Council’s has had to hold on for nearly a year to see its plan through, though some are still turning their noses up.

The Advertiser first told of how the council backed coin slots for the conveniences in Castle Street and Smithfield soon after swapping loos for street lighting with Shropshire County Council.

As part of the deal, Shropshire Council agreed to cover the cost of fitting slots to take 20p pieces so the town council could make money out of spending pennies.

The slots were supposed to be in place in time for the record 100,000 visitors who ar rived between April and September. But special locks imported from the US were set up to take a penny not 20p – and could not be adjusted.

Now, acting town clerk Gina Wilding said the wraps should come off new slots by Christmas.

The Chamber of Trade, however is in no rush. “We have not been asked about or properly discussed the issue but I think we will,”

said chamber secretary Tish Dockerty.

Angela Linsday, manger of Ludlow Visitor Information Centre, did not wish to comment upon the introduction of charges but believes that people will be “forever coming in for change”.

Jean Jarvis, chief executive of the South Shropshire Furniture Scheme, which runs the Renaissance in Tower Street, does not believe it will reduce the number of visitors to Ludlow.

“I think a charge is now fairly standard and people expect it,” she said.

“But if people are paying they expect the lavatories to be clean and well looked after.”