PROTESTORS took a seat to show their “outrage” at the closure of public toilets across Poole.

Around a dozen people gathered outside St James’ Church on Monday ahead of the hustings event for candidates hoping to be the next Poole MP.

It comes after the Daily Echo launched a campaign last week to have the toilets reopened, after receiving an unprecedented level of correspondence from residents furious about the policy.

Borough of Poole agreed to move forward with the next phase of the closure programme earlier this year.

Among those axed were Baiter Park, the Haven, Sandbanks Road, Branksome Park, Alexandra Park and the toilets at Poole bus station.

The five candidates fighting for the Poole seat were asked about the closure of public toilets in Poole, and what each of them would do to persuade the council to reopen them.

The incumbent Conservative candidate Robert Syms told the crowd of about 150 people that it was “not an issue for the local MP”.

“I believe there is a motion going to the next council meeting to discuss this issue again,” said Mr Syms.

“Contact your local councillor with your concerns as they are the ones responsible.”

Meanwhile Liberal Democrat candidate Mike Plummer said: “The only way you can get anything done is to scare the council.

“Hundreds of people need to show up to that meeting. Fill it completely so they know that we are serious. This current decision is a threat not just to residents but to tourism as well.”

Adrian Oliver, representing the Green Party, also encouraged the public to keep up the fight to make sure their voices are heard.

And Labour candidate Katie Taylor accused the council of passing responsibility onto other people such as business owners.

And Marty Caine, of The Collective Thinking Party of Britain, said the only way to stop the closures was to change national legislation.

“We need to force through legislation so that councils can no longer say they are not legally obligated to provide services like public toilets,” he added. He asked the crowd to back a parliamentary petition.

See tomorrow's Daily Echo for further coverage of the Poole hustings.