HOW sad and how degrading is the news that Bournemouth council is to consider the shutting down of existing public conveniences and to replace the demand by directing people to private toilets.

There cannot be any lower retrograde step that could be envisaged respecting our town’s status – and the claim to be the premier resort of the UK would be severely in doubt.

Surely the onus rests on the council to provide adequate conveniences for residents and visitor alike, and to maintain them in pristine condition and would be proud to be able to boast that such an all-important amenity is part of the town’s presentation to its residents and those good people who wish to spend a holiday in our resort.

If the council is so hard up that it cannot afford to maintain the public toilets now existing, then as has occurred in other authorities’ areas, surely it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that a contract can be arranged with appropriate sanitary and similar contractors to take over our conveniences and take the place of our sanitary and health department – on a contract cost basis, of course.

But we must keep our public toilets open for public use.


PHILIP WHITELEGG, Saxonhurst Close, Northbourne