POPPIT Sands could become known as ‘Poo-pit Sands’ and be stripped of its prestigious Blue Flag award if the toilet facilities are closed.

That was the concern voiced by members of St Dogmaels Community Council who fear that Pembrokeshire County Council will pull out of running the toilets to cut costs and off-load it to the community council.

Community councillors felt they would not have the expertise or cash to run the ageing facilities, which are in urgent need of an upgrade.

The public toilets in the centre of the village in the car park are also under threat.

Cllr Gill Wislocka argued it would be a huge financial undertaking and said: “I don’t feel I have the skills or knowledge to deal with something like this.

“If the toilets close, people will go in the dunes and we may as well advertise it as ‘Poo-pit’ Sands. This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the county council and Pembrokeshire National Park authority should be looking after it.

“The Park makes enough money out of car parking down there. Perhaps they could contribute or we could get other organisations involved?

“I feel like they are trying to bulldoze us into a decision we are not in a position to make.”

Poppit Sands was only recently re-awarded its Blue Flag and toilet provision is important in maintaining that status.

”If we lose the toilets, we will lose our Blue Flag status,” said Cllr Phil Hutchings. “The footfall through the car park will fall and the National Park has to realise that.”

He said there would be a huge impact on the whole area if Poppit Sands lost its Blue Flag.

Cllr Elwyn Rees said: “We need to get all the information we can and then perhaps hold a public meeting. It will have a huge impact on the residents of the area and we need to know what the public really wants. Let’s put it to the rate payers in the area.”

The community council has set up a working party to look into all the issues.