A PUBLIC toilet facility in Clevedon will be re-opened in time for the bank holiday weekend thanks to the town’s pier trust.

Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust has agreed to take on the running of the conveniences in Alexandra Road for a trial period after they were closed by North Somerset Council on April 1.

The toilets will be opened by pier staff during the opening hours of the seafront landmark and special arrangements will be made to allow Clevedon Pier Sea Angling Club to use them out of hours.

This will cost the trust about £7,000 per year and contributions have been offered by the angling club and Tiffin Tea House in The Beach.

Pier mistress Linda Strong said: “We realised that these toilets are vital for the community and visitors to the pier and we believe we have to try to keep them open for public use.

“This is an additional challenge for us but with support we believe we can make it work.”

Angling club chairman Dan Palmer said: “The facilities closing would have meant that our members, many of whom are elderly and fish for periods of up to 12 hours at a time, would have had to seriously consider the practicality of continuing to fish from the pier.”