Labour councillors have been accused of “flushing away” taxpayers’ money by closing seven recently refurbished community toilets in Sheffield.

New figures show that, in the past five years, over £260,000 has been invested in the seven public toilets, which are now earmarked for closure by Labour-run Sheffield City Council.

Three toilets have had over £70,000 invested in recent years with new buildings at Rivelin Post Office and Abbey Lane costing £70,000 and £73,000 respectively. Chapeltown toilets received a complete refurbishment at a cost of £80,000 as recently as 2010.

Liberal Democrats are challenging the decision to close the seven toilets, which will save an estimated £68,000. The saving compares to the £80,000 equivalent salary of a recently appointed “Director of Integration”.

Cllr Ian Auckland, local Liberal Democrat councillor for Graves Park, which contains the Abbey Lane toilets, said:

“Local residents fought long and hard for new community toilets on Abbey Lane.

“I’m proud that we were able to invest in new facilities. Closing those toilets just a few years later would be like flushing that investment down the bog.”