Public toilets in Ewell Village are to be auctioned off in a move described as "degrading" for the elderly population in the area.

The toilets, opposite Bourne Hall, were closed in April 2010, along with those in Stoneleigh Broadway and Upper High Street car park.

Epsom and Ewell Council said the closures would save £21,000 a year and negotiations were made with local businesses to allow public use of their facilities.

But the utilities, which were open from 6am to 7pm, will now be sold on the open market on May 24.

Pat Thomas, 76, who lives in Ewell Village, said she was concerned people in their 70s and 80s would suffer as a result and hopes the new owner would turn them into paid-for toilets.

She said: "I am appalled and shocked that the council could think of auctioning the toilets off.

"They are a basic human need and the council has no right to do this. It will be so degrading for people.

"Most coach companies taking residents on holidays and day trips pick up passengers from the bus stop in front of or opposite the toilet block. The facilities at Bourne Hall are often not open.

"The council has a moral duty to provide clean, maintained toilets and I have been appalled at the lack of forethought that those officers who voted to close facilities throughout the borough have shown to their fellow citizens. Do we really want children and adults urinating in the street?"

A council spokesman said the toilets were under-used and it was not cost effective to keep them open.

He said: "Before taking the decision to close the toilets, the council thoroughly investigated use of the facility and associated costs.

"The decision to close these toilets was ratified by the full council in January 2010 in order to save council tax payer money being spent on what was an under-used resource.

"The council has seen a two per cent grant cut over the past two years and expects further cuts in future years making tough decisions on spending unavoidable.

He said re-opening the toilets would "not be a good use of its limited resources, especially as public conveniences are available nearby in Bourne Hall".

The spokesman added: "The council is now to place the property in auction, with the sale scheduled for 24 May, to ensure that the best terms possible are achieved in accordance with statutory obligations.

"Any change of use will require planning consent in the normal way."

In January 2010, the council said savings would be made on the electricity, water, cleaning, rates, insurances and day-to-day maintenance costs of the toilets.

It said the cost per visit to the toilets was 40 to 50p and the average number of recorded visitors per day was 30 to Ewell Village, 66 to Stoneleigh and 55 to Upper High Street.

Commenting on whether coin-operated turnstiles could instead be installed, the council said: "Turnstiles normally operate where there are high volumes of use and an attendant present.

"There needs to be room to install a bypass facility to achieve Disability Discrimination Act compliance. These conditions do not exist at these facilities thus this solution is impractical."

The matter was again considered by the council in November 2010, after protests were held outside the Stoneleigh toilets in June, but the decision was made for the toilets to remain shut.

Councillor Jean Smith, chair of the environment committee, said at the time: "A tough decision to make, but in the present difficult financial climate, I believe the correct one.

"We must maintain the ability to continue providing the many highly-valued personal services to the elderly, vulnerable members of our borough who are so dependent on our support."