THE public has been invited to submit questions to Poole council about the recent public toilet closures.

Borough of Poole’s place overview and scrutiny committee is due to discuss the issue next week.

Last month the council voted to defer any discussion on reopening the toilets at Baiter Park until it had gone to the appropriate scrutiny committee.

This came as a major blow for campaigners hoping to see the toilets opened in time for the summer holidays.

The scrutiny meeting takes place on Wednesday at the Civic Centre, but any recommendations won’t be put to full council until September due to the summer recess.

Campaigners will face a two-month wait for a decision on the future of the Baiter Park toilets - as well as other facilities which have been closed across the Borough.

During Wednesday’s meeting the committee will discuss a petition put forward by Parkstone Bay Residents’ Association chairman Mike Randall, as well as a motion from opposition councillors calling for a second look at the toilet closure decision.

Mr Randall’s petition, which had 400 signatures, requested the council re-open the Baiter Park toilets as a matter of urgency.

He has said repeatedly that currently the toilet block at the park presents a ‘health risk’ because people are urinating and defecating outside of the building once they realise it’s closed.

“Deferring the decision until after the summer holidays greatly concerns me for various reasons, including the fact that when the clement weather returns, there will be significant increase of footfall at Baiter Park and many groups will use the open area. This will naturally increase the need to use toilets,” he said.

Poole People party leader Cllr Mark Howell, who put forward the motion, agreed it was a matter of urgency to get the toilets reopened over the busy summer period. Speaking at last month’s meeting he said: “There are people defecating and urinating in bushes around the closed toilet block at Baiter Park.

“It’s a public health risk and needs to be addressed urgently. This council has been made a laughing stock and the reputational damage will only continue.”

Questions must not exceed 100 words and need to be submitted by midnight on Friday. They will only be accepted from people who work, live, own a business or are registered to vote in the borough.

n Email p.gill@poole.gov.uk or b.hanton@poole.gov.uk

n Letters to be addressed to Pauline Gill, Democratic Services Manager, Civic Centre, Poole BH15 2RU