VISITORS to two areas of Poole should not have to worry about being caught short as more community toilets open their doors.

Borough of Poole closed its ageing public loos in Blandford Road, Hamworthy and Jubilee Road, off Ashley Road, Parkstone yesterday.

However, the council has extended its Community Toilet Scheme, which allows anyone to use the facilities in premises of those who have signed up.

Businesses taking part will display the “use our loo” sticker in their window and will receive a fee from the council to cover their costs.

In Hamworthy these include the library, the Red Lion and the Adam Practice medical centre and in Ashley Road Rosina’s Café, Waitrose, Oswald Bailey and the Victoria Cross pub.

Cllr Xena Dion, cabinet portfolio holder for a prosperous and sustainable Poole said: “We understand that public toilet facilities are important to residents and visitors.

“The Community Toilet Scheme is a way in which we can continue to make clean, safe and accessible toilets available to all people without increasing the burden on council taxpayers and still afford the ever growing costs in the future.”

There are 30 public toilets in Poole and the cost of running them rises as the buildings age. Many are in poor condition and the cost of carrying out work to them over the next 10 years has been estimated at £1.3million.

Community toilets are available during normal business hours and many have disabled and baby changing facilities.

Cllr Mike White, ward member for Hamworthy East said: “By working in partnership with local businesses the council is able to offer a much better standard of facilities than in traditional public toilets.”

Fellow ward member, Cllr Charmaine Parkinson, said: “I think the community toilet scheme will offer a better and much more pleasant choice of facilities for residents with an increased spread of facilities and will enable improvements to the rest of our ageing public toilet buildings which are much needed.”