A WELLINGTON toilet block has been left in a “disgusting state” after the council-employed cleaning service appeared to forget about its responsibilities.

The contractor, idverde, employed by Somerset Council, has not turned up to clean North Street toilet block for a number of days, says the town’s mayor.

The Community Warden Sheldon Hancock has stepped in to clean the toilets in the meantime.

Mayor of Wellington Councillor Janet Lloyd said: “I received a telephone call at 9am on Tuesday morning regarding the disgusting state of the toilets in the North Street car park and contacted the officers at Wellington Town Council who went and investigated immediately.”

The Wellington Town Council said in a statement: “It has transpired that the toilets in North Street have not been cleaned as idverde had assumed that because Taunton Town Council had taken on the cleaning of their toilets at the beginning of September, we were doing the same.

“That is now being resolved and, in the meantime, Sheldon, our Community Warden, has stepped up and cleaned the North Street Car Park toilets and we are waiting for toilet paper to be delivered. 

“Until then they are out of action.”

Idverde has been approached for comment.

Somerset Council’s contract with idverde is set to end in May 2025 as they seek to cut costs.

The council expects to dissolve the provision of cleaning services, such as street cleaning and grounds maintenance, in line with the contract ending next year. The expected savings are between £200,000 and £300,000 per year.