Fought-over toilets in Poole are to be demolished after a 2,000-strong petition failed to persuade councillors to keep them open.

The Jubilee Road loos have been the subject of a lengthy campaign to re-open them after they were shut by Borough of Poole in May in favour of a community scheme.

Presenting the petition to a full meeting of Borough of Poole, Richard Wilson, chairman of Ashley Road Traders said: “The community toilet scheme is not working.”

He said people felt embarrassed going into premises to use the facilities and felt they ought to buy something. “It has resulted in distress to many people and also some very unpleasant behaviour.”

Cllr Brian Clements, presenting a motion to re-open the toilet block, said: “This scheme is not working for Ashley Road and never will.” He said there were three participating businesses and despite officers trying to sign up more, no others had come forward.

He said he was disappointed that his motion had been lost by two votes. “I had really hoped that people would set aside party politics and vote in the best interests of our local high street.”

Amendments were made to amendments as part of the two-hour debate, during which Cllr Graham Chandler suggested that they could be re-opened for up to a year and Cllr Judy Butt called for the disabled toilet to be re-opened immediately.

Cllr Xena Dion, cabinet portfolio holder for a prosperous and sustainable Poole, pointed out the council had serious budget pressures and to re-open the dilapidated toilets would cost £15,000 in the short term, with another £90,000 needed on the structure.

She accused campaigners of being “politically motivated” and said neither she nor environmental services had received any complaints about the closure.

However the Jubilee Road toilets received more complaints about anti-social behaviour than any of the other 31 public loos.

“If there was no alternative, that would be different,” she said. “There are twice as many toilets as there were before.”

Waitrose, the Victoria Cross and Rosina’s café are signed up to the scheme.

“The next step is to get them demolished as soon as possible,” she added.