Another round of cuts to public services will see the closure of swimming pools and a 5% rise in parking charges in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

The Lib Dem-led council’s cabinet agreed on Wednesday night to make £3m of savings.

The authority blamed the rising cost of supply temporary accommodation for the homeless for its financial position.

The latest batch of savings will see two swimming pools closed at the Sovereign Center and the council will push ahead with its plan to replace some public facilities with a community toilet schemewith pubs and restaurants allowing the public to use their facilities.

Council leader Stephen Holt told the meeting: “We always knew this year would be a challenging one. I always knew this year would be difficult.

“We have always been determined to find those savings to ensure we can provide financial stability to this authority.”

During the meeting, Mr Holt faced heckling, including calls for his resignation.

A public campaign it ran to keep all toilets in Eastbourne open, while nearly 6,000 people signed a petition opposing the closure of the diving and fun pools at the Sovereign Centre.

Paul Howard, who organized the Save the Pools campaign, said: “The fun pool is where families routinely go with babies, toddlers and infants to gain their confidence.

“It is the only pool in the city that is accessible to people with disabilities or people with learning difficulties.”

Holywell Pier, kiosk and toilets have been saved, but nine others are due to close in December.

Robert Smart, leader of the Conservative opposition group at Eastbourne Borough Council, told BBC Radio Sussex: “Eastbourne is a wonderful place but it is being ruined by an incompetent Lib Dem administration.

“They have quadrupled the debt since 2015 to £191m, costing us £7m a year.

“The important point we are trying to make is that the council should not rush to close these things, either the toilets or the swimming pools, until satisfactory solutions are found.

“No long-term planning, just plastered-together solutions.”