Public lavatories could soon be a thing of the past if a council plan to get rid of them goes ahead.

North Wiltshire District Council is considering closing public loos in various locations in North Wiltshire, including Colerne. Box and Lyneham, as well as Purton, Biddestone and in Station Road, Wootton Bassett.

Dick Tonge, chairman of Colerne parish council said: "The district council has done this to save £50,000, which isn't a lot to them.

"The parish councils have offered to take them over, but only if the district council help us out financially.

"Otherwise we will have to put an extra £3,000 on our precept, which is totally unacceptable."

James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire said: "I have asked the council to reconsider this decision, and I hope that many others will do likewise."

In a letter to Carol O'Gorman, leader of the council, Mr Gray said: "I really do feel that the provision of public lavatories in rural areas as well as in market towns should be the responsibility of the district Council."

Margaret Carey, clerk to Box Parish Council said: "We are very concerned because the facilities are on the A4 and very convenient for motorists.

"But we are not prepared to take them on if they are going to be a large expense for taxpayers.

"We have also done a survey and there needs to be some work done on them before we can take them on."

A task group from North Wiltshire District Council was set up in 2005 to look at the issue of public lavatory provision in the area.

It reported that devolving public lavatories to local councils would reduce time and resources, promote sustainability, better respond to local needs, reduce vandalism and prove that the council is committed to finding community solutions to issues.

Nearby Kennet District Council has recently given up running their lavatories and passed them on to parish councils, which has put an extra £9 a year on people's council tax bills.