Negotiations are to continue over the future of public toilets at Polurrian Beach, Mullion, after parish councillors narrowly chose not to reject outright a deal transferring responsibility for the toilets to the parish authority.

The toilets are currently closed, and Kerrier district council has said that will remain the case unless the parish council takes over the costs of cleaning and maintenance.

Lifeguard cover will not be provided at the beach unless the toilets are re-opened.

At a meeting on Tuesday, parish councillors considered a draft deal drawn up by Kerrier which said the parish would take on responsibility for matters including unlocking and cleaning the toilets, all repairs to the building and maintenance of the pump.

The district council would offer a one-off payment of £250, in addition to providing free toilet rolls.

Parish council chairman Sue Ormond was unhappy with aspects of the proposed deal.

"The costs in the future could be astronomical," she said. "We will look like baddies if we don't take this on because Kerrier will say we closed the toilets, but it is an immense cost that would fall on the taxpayers.

"How many people would be willing to have this on their rates?"

Concerns were also raised that the issue of lifeguard cover was being used as a "lever" to get the council to agree to the deal.

"They have got us against the wall," said Alec Gilbert. "Kerrier is relinquishing a cost and putting it on the parish council, which can ill afford the extra expense. I think it is absolutely disgusting."

Despite wanting to see the toilets re-opened, several members were in favour of rejecting the deal and handing the issue back to Kerrier.

A majority eventually agreed to negotiate with the district council, after deleting several aspects of the proposed deal.

l Members decided to reject an offer to take over public toilets at Tremenhee car park, Mullion Cove and Poldhu beach.

Kerrier had offered an annual payment of around £2,400 for unlocking and cleaning the toilets - a sum which would be increased if the parish council was also prepared to accept responsibility for minor maintenance.

Members heard Kerrier was keen to establish partnership deals with local parish councils but would not close the toilets if the offer was declined.