Ashby's public toilets will be closed for two days next week ahead of contactless payments being introduced by North West Leicestershire District Council

The council says the work will allow new payment mechanisms to be installed "in the coming months".

Work had been due to start on the scheme in November - although one Labour councillor said the £23,000 refit was a 'waste of money'.

Work to allow electronic payments to be taken in Ashby and Coalville public toilets is due to start this month.

The Council is upgrading the doors and controls for its toilets in Ashby and Coalville to allow for the acceptance of contactless payments as it reintroduces charges.

Thursday's Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting confirmed that a future 30p charge is in the pipeline.

Work to the toilets, in Derby Road and is expected to take two days. The toilets will be closed to allow the work to be completed.

When complete, the accessible toilets will continue to be free for anyone using a RADAR key and will also accept coin payments for those without access to contactless payment methods such as a debit card or apps including Google or Apple Pay.

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It is a scheme that was narrowly voted through by the council in September, amid some criticism which raised concerns for people without the technology needed to pay to use the facility.

Labour councillor for Money Hill ward in Ashby, Murrae Blair-Park said at the time: "The decision to install contactless card entry for our public toilets is an outrageous waste of money at a time when there are so many other priorities and countless better ways to spend £23,000."

The Ashby toilets will be closed on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 January.

The council's social media said wryly: "We apologise for any inconvenience.

"The work will allow us to install new payment mechanisms in the coming months."