DUNSTER businesses could lose out on thousands of pounds if coachloads of tourists are left with nowhere to spend a penny, unless village taxpayers foot the bill.


At a meeting on Monday night, the parish councillors were recommended by West Somerset Council to increase their precept in order cater for the toilets in the Dunster Steep car park, which will close in 2017 April if no solution can be found.


But were they to close, parish councillors fear the coach operators which bring in thousands of tourists to the village would be forced to think twice about stopping at Dunster coming to the village.


West Somerset Councillor Bryan Leaker said: “Whilst I realise the financial constraints West Somerset Council are under, coach operators have said no toilets would mean no coaches. No coaches means no tourists, which will in turn lead to no business rates, which would leave West Somerset in major trouble. We need to think of alternatives, this is Dunster, Minehead is not the answer.”


From April through to October, seven coaches a day come to the village, but when planning their stops, the coach operators need key assurances including parking, toilets, and places of interest to visit.


The car park run by West Somerset Council charges in Dunster brings in £60,000 a year, but without the coaches this could drop by 41 per cent, Mr Leaker said.


“West Somerset Council must accept that Dunster is special case it brings more visitors to West Somerset than anywhere else bar Butlins, if we stop coach operators coming to Dunster and Minehead, we could reduce visitors by 67 per cent which would be suicide for businesses and local economy in Dunster, Minehead and West Somerset.


“Dunster is a potential ‘World Heritage Site’ which can bring an additional 250,000 visitors per annum,” Mr Leaker added. “This opportunity cannot be missed. Dunster Parish Council, West Somerset Council, Somerset County Council must work to support Dunster to deliver tourism in the area.”


Faced with a budget gap of more than £500,000, West Somerset Council estimates it can save £107,000 through transferring the running of the toilets to other organisations.