A LAST ditch attempt to prevent the closure of eight public toilets in Poole has failed.

Borough of Poole’s (BOP) call-in overview and scrutiny committee convened on Monday to examine the decision backed by the council’s cabinet last month.

At Monday’s meeting the committee recommended cabinet moves forward with the closures – which would leave only 15 public toilets open out of 30 before closures began.

However it was also recommended that the toilets be mothballed – which means they wouldn’t be destroyed but left in good condition while officers establish options with alternative providers.

The toilets affected are at Baiter Park, Branksome Recreation Ground, Alexandra Park, Charborough Road (Broadstone Recreation Ground), Constitution Hill, Parkstone Park, Poole Road, and The Haven.

The borough has said the new wave of closures will save £100,000 in addition to the £193,000 already recouped by other public toilet closures.

But the decision has been met with opposition from councillors and residents – particularly in relation to the toilets at Baiter Park and the Sandbanks Ferry.

Mike Randall, who lives opposite Baiter Park, spoke at the meeting in favour of keeping the toilets at the park open.

Speaking to the Echo he said: “I was appalled at the main reasoning for closure-funding.

“No account was taken of human basic needs, no proximity of additional toilets, no account of needs of disabled visitors, no account of needs of large school groups, no account taken of needs of very young children and no account taken of the very large footfall of the area.

“I do feel so sorry for visitors to this beautiful area of Poole having to 'jog' 15 minutes or more to locate a toilet.”

Cllr Phil Eades, who represents the Branksome ward, said: “The portfolio holder showed no interest in the potential reputational damage to Poole as a tourist destination - particularly with reference to Baiter, Constitution Hill Viewpoint and Sandbanks Ferry public toilets.

“There was also no interest over the problems that will be experienced by the young, the old, the disabled or those with medical difficulties at any of these locations.”

The portfolio holder, Cllr John Rampton, said the toilets would cost too much to maintain if left open. “These proposals are not to demolish the toilets, they are simply being mothballed. Should the financial landscape change, perhaps through local government reorganisation, we might be able to reopen them,” he added.

The decision will now go back to cabinet to get final approval.