BOROUGH of Poole has said it will clean up the closed toilet block at Baiter Park after being threatened with legal action.

Chairman of Parkstone Bay Association, Mike Randall, gave the council until 5pm yesterday to clean the outside of the building.

Mr Randall, who lives in Catalina Drive, said the area has become a health risk since the toilets closed earlier this year due to people relieving themselves in the bushes outside the facilities.

But he said the situation was exacerbated over the weekend when more than 1,000 people descended on the park for the Cancer Research Pretty Muddy event which took place on one of the hottest weekends of the year.

“I personally witnessed dozens of people of all ages relieving themselves in the bushes, against trees and walls of the toilet block.

“Due to the heat the area by the toilets is stinking and will not get any better as the hot weather continues.

“The situation is becoming unbearable.”

On Monday Mr Randall contacted the council insisting the toilet block was cleaned, or he would be taking legal action for “negligence and placing his family’s health at risk”.

Yesterday a council spokesman confirmed that someone from the environmental services team was sent to Baiter Park to assess the situation.

“It has been decided that the street scene team will be sent to the park to power wash the site,” she added.

“The team will then evaluate the situation and decide how often the site will be cleaned.”

But Mr Randall said he is annoyed that it has taken the threat of legal action to get anything done.

“I should not have to continually berate the council to at least address basic health and hygiene issues,” he added.

At Borough of Poole’s full council meeting on Tuesday Mr Randall is due to present a petition with 400 signatures requesting the council re-open the Baiter Park toilets. The petition reads: “The council is requested to re-open the toilets as a matter of urgency, and also on health and safety grounds, to ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy the open spaces on offer at Baiter Park.”