A PLEA has been made for Waverley to be “as kind as it can” when drawing up new legal agreements for Haslemere and Godalming town councils to take over three public toilet blocks.

There was relief all round when the borough council agreed Haslemere Town Council could take over its only public conveniences in the High Street car park to save them from being shut.

Haslemere was next in line to lose its toilet block as a cost-cutting measure, after the public loos in Godalming and Farncombe were both shut in June.

Determined not to lose a vital facility that contains the only 24/7 disabled toilet, Haslemere Town Council launched an online protest petition that gathered just under 400 signatures in four days, with many comments branding the impending closure “uncivilised” and an “utter joke”.

Waverley officers are working with the council to finalise the legal agreement and mayor Malcolm Carter has pledged to put £1,000 from his allowance to cover any shortfalls in Haslemere’s community fund towards the running costs.

The town council also wants to upgrade the public loos and will announce its improvements plan as soon as the lease is signed.

Members of Waverley’s community well-being overview and scrutiny committee received an update on the toilets takeover from the borough’s strategic director Damian Roberts last week.

He confirmed progress on talks over the loos takeover with both town councils.

He said: “Waverley hopes to issue them with a lease transferring the buildings so they can operate the toilets themselves. The agreement will be formalised at the next executive meeting.”

Godalming town and borough councillor Liz Wheatley said: “I plead with Waverley to be as kind as it can and not slip in clauses that make it almost impossible for Godalming Town Council to accept. I fully understand Waverley’s financial problems, but we have our own as well.”

Mr Roberts said Waverley would be “very accommodating” so the facilities could be sustained for the long term.