Porthtowan’s 50p toilets: what the charge pays for, and a £10 card

It costs more than £58,000 to keep the public toilets across St Agnes parish open for a year. And the coins dropped into the payment systems at Porthtowan and Trevaunance Cove are a big part of how that bill gets paid.

St Agnes Parish Council has set out where the money goes in its latest newsletter, alongside an update on a void in Beach Road, a play park reopening, two empty seats in Mount Hawke and a busy October at the library.

Where the toilet money goes

The payment systems at Porthtowan and Trevaunance Cove were brought in mainly to keep the toilets open. Running all three parish toilet sites in 2026/27 will cost more than £58,000, covering rates, water, electricity, repairs, waste disposal, cleaning, staffing, toilet paper and soap.

The income helps meet those costs and reduces the amount needed from the Parish Council element of Council Tax. Without it, the council says it would have had to consider whether it could carry on providing the service.

The 50p charge at Porthtowan has also cut down on the antisocial behaviour and damage that was previously happening on an almost daily basis, according to the council. Incidents are now much less frequent, but it says they still happen, sometimes involving people who have paid to go in, and each one needs cleaning and repairs by the Maintenance Team. Part of the charge goes towards that too.

Hot water and showers on the wish list

People have been asking for improvements, and hot water, warmer hand-drying and showers are among the ideas being looked at. Officers review maintenance needs, options and costs each year, and councillors usually make budget decisions between October and December for the following financial year (April 2027 to March 2028). Any change has to account for installation and running costs, risks and long-term liabilities.

The £10 card for parish residents

Parish residents can apply for a card that gives unlimited use of the payment systems at Porthtowan and Trevaunance Cove. It costs £10, once, with no ongoing charge. The fee covers the chipped plastic card itself, which is a direct cost to the council. Handing every resident a free card would cost more than £80,000, it says.

To get one, take these to the Parish Office:

• your most recent Council Tax bill showing payment to St Agnes Parish Council
• photo ID
• £10 in cash

The office can’t take card payments at the moment, but the council says it is working to change that in the coming weeks. There’s more detail in the council’s post on what your toilet payment supports.

A void in Beach Road, Porthtowan

A void has appeared in Beach Road, Porthtowan, and Cornwall Council Highways says more planning and investigation is needed before it knows how big the repair job is. Until then it can’t confirm whether utility diversions will be needed or how long any works might take.

Highways acknowledges that the village has a single access road and says some disruption is likely. It has started talking to the Parish Council about the least disruptive times to carry out the work, and once the plans are clearer it expects to hold a meeting so residents and businesses can hear the proposed approach and ask questions before anything starts.

In the meantime, current and planned roadworks, closures and restrictions across the county can be checked on Cornwall Council’s roadworks map, which can be searched by road name or postcode.

Beaconsfield Play Park reopens

Beaconsfield Play Park has been shut since 23 September while the maintenance team carried out repairs, cleaning and smaller improvements. It’s due to reopen on Thursday 1 October.

The hedgerows were cut back first. Then the team cleaned the play equipment and surrounding areas, finished repairs and put one piece of equipment back in. Other items have gone away for professional shot-blasting and repainting and should be back within the next couple of months.

The council calls this a first step, and wants children, families and anyone who uses the park to say what they’d like to see there in future through its Beaconsfield Play Park survey.

A separate survey on how the council should support children and young people drew more than 120 responses. The results are due in the October newsletter and will feed into budget decisions on the future of the Parish Youth Project.

When a defibrillator was a short walk away

In late August, a medical emergency in St Agnes brought people together fast. RNLI members and two doctors who happened to be nearby stepped in, began CPR and used a public access defibrillator that was only a short distance away while emergency services were on their way.

Members of the Parish Council Maintenance Team managed traffic and kept the area clear so ambulance crews and Cornwall Air Ambulance could reach the scene and have space to work.

That defibrillator was put there through the St Agnes Parishwide Defibrillator Network, with funding support from the Parish Council and the St Agnes Local Improvement Committee.

Two seats to fill in Mount Hawke

Mount Hawke ward has four seats on St Agnes Parish Council, and two of them are empty. Cllr Diana Rodda and Cllr Lauren Porter hold the other two.

No nominations came in for the by-election that had been planned for 8 October, so a fresh election will be arranged. A further vacancy has been declared following Jack Williams’ non-attendance.

Parish councillors have a say on things like play areas, footpaths, the library, community facilities and support for young people. You don’t have to live in Mount Hawke to represent the ward, although you do need to meet the eligibility rules for a St Agnes Parish Councillor. The council says a willingness to listen, learn and work with others matters more than arriving with all the answers.

Anyone interested can start with an informal chat with a councillor or the Clerk by emailing [email protected] or calling 01872 553801. Election notices and full details are on the council’s Mount Hawke vacancy page.

October at St Agnes Library

The St Agnes Singers are performing at the library this Saturday (3 October) from 11am, as part of Fun Palaces. The library is open as usual from 10am to 1pm, and you can listen, find out about future performances or ask about joining.

Then on Saturday 31 October at 10am, Rachel’s free Saturday Singalong gets a Halloween twist, with a themed story plus nursery rhymes and songs with a spooky spin. Fancy dress is welcome but optional. The Saturday Singalong sits alongside the regular Wednesday 2pm sessions, which alternate between Rhymetime and Storytime with a craft.

Over the summer, 192 children signed up for the Cornwall Reading Challenge at St Agnes Library, and 134 of them finished it by completing six books or activities. That’s a 70% completion rate. Outreach Coordinator Molly will be visiting the parish’s four schools to hand out certificates.

A welcome for breastfeeding families

St Agnes Library and St Agnes Parish Council are among the local venues taking part in Cornwall Council’s Breastfeeding Welcome scheme, alongside cafés, shops and other places around the parish. A window sticker lets families know they’ll get a warm welcome if they need to feed their baby. Breastfeeding in public doesn’t depend on a venue signing up, though.

Allotment news

Tenants of Mithian and Mount Hawke Allotments and their families are invited to the first-ever Allotment Quiz Night on Friday 9 October at 7pm at St Agnes Scout Hut. Expect gardening and allotment questions, refreshments and prizes.

Allotment Assistant Kerrie and Outreach Coordinator Molly are also planning an autumn Storytime, Craft and Sing at Mithian Allotments during October half-term, for families of tenants at both sites. The date will be announced nearer the time.

After an exceptionally hot summer, the council’s autumn tips for plot holders include clearing spent crops and weeds, turning the compost and planting garlic, onions, shallots, broad beans, peas, spinach, winter greens and spring bulbs.

The council is also developing a new allotment site in the parish. Both existing sites have waiting lists, for parishioners and non-parishioners, and you can join by emailing [email protected] or calling 01872 553801.

Parking in the village centre

Concerns have been raised about vehicles parking unlawfully in St Agnes village centre, including in the loading bay near the village shop. According to the council, the congestion and delays this causes are leading to bus routes being diverted away from the village. Unlawfully parked vehicles can be reported through Cornwall Council’s website.

Shared ownership homes in the parish

Shared ownership homes are available now at Sparrow Close in Porthtowan, and a further development is planned at Presingoll Barns in St Agnes. Buyers purchase a share of a home and pay rent on the rest, with the option to buy more shares over time. Eligibility depends on a financial assessment and other criteria.

Priority goes first to people with a connection to St Agnes Parish. If homes are still available, it widens in stages to neighbouring parishes and then to anyone with a connection to Cornwall. Details are on the Coastline Home Ownership website.

📷Drone shot over St Agnes, Cornwall, showcasing historic village homes, church, and coastal surroundings—great for travel, real estate, and rural lifestyle visuals