FOUR public toilets in Poole town centre have been closed for good - replaced with a 'community toilet scheme' making use of facilities in shops and businesses.

The council-run public toilets in Kingland Road Bus Station, Quay Visitors, Chapel Lane and Quay Watch Station were permanently closed on Monday (April 25) - saving Borough of Poole £98,000 a year.

Instead people are being asked to make use of existing loos in Sainsbury's, Poole Museum and The Lighthouse. All three have signed up to be part of a 'community toilet scheme,' whereby they make their toilets available for public use in exchange for a fee. Shoppers are advised to look out for the 'use our loo' sticker in the window of participating businesses, which are paid between £360 to £1,000 per year by the council towards the upkeep of the facilities.

The scheme, approved earlier this year, had come under fire for failing to offer any 'new' facilities.

Poole Town ward councillor Mark Howell, who 'called in' the decision for scrutiny, argued that as "these businesses already make their toilets freely accessible," "no additional provision is actually being made." He described the move as "a cut in service being dressed up as an improvement."

Cllr John Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for environmental and consumer protection services, said the scheme was "one of the innovative approaches the council is taking to meet the significant financial challenge it faces over this and forthcoming years."

The council has to find further savings of £12million over the next three years to close the funding gap in its budget.

He added: "We know our residents and visitors value having access to toilets. Similar community schemes have been running very successfully in four areas of the borough and many other parts of the country for some time now and provide a means to offer modern, clean, accessible and safe facilities to the public.

"We're delighted to have Sainsbury's, Poole Museum and The Lighthouse on board to launch the Community Toilet Scheme in the town centre and we will continue to encourage more businesses to sign up as the new scheme develops."

Toilets at the Dolphin Shopping Centre and Dolphin Quays will also be available for public use.

The council is looking at different ways to provide access to toilets, and faces rising costs running the ageing 23 public toilets across the borough.

It estimates the cost of refurbishing these facilities would be £1.3 million over the next 10 years.

It launched its first Community Toilet Scheme in Broadstone in August 2013, followed by Canford Heath in September 2013, and Hamworthy and Parkstone in March 2014.