CALLS have been made for BCP Council to reassess its policy towards not selling public toilets in Poole to businesses after the successful reopening of facilities in Hamworthy.

Councillor Julie Bagwell worked with W&S Recycling owner Geoff Thompson to restore the toilet block in Blandford Road, near the Co-op food store.

This project involved purchasing the site from the council for £57,000 before completing a full refurbishment.

Both Cllr Bagwell and Mr Thompson told the Daily Echo they were keen to repeat their efforts at other sites. However, the council appears unwilling to take up the offer.

Mike Pierce, BCP Council’s project officer, said: “Work is ongoing to explore opportunities to retain toilets by collaborating with community organisations and private businesses. BCP Council is not considering selling any toilets in Poole.”

Cllr Bagwell said discussions had taken place about taking on businesses buying sites in the town, but, the local authority wanted to lease them rather than sell them.

The Hamworthy representative said improvements of Baiter Park facilities as well as reopening the toilets at the bus station should be a priority.

She said: “It is a fundamental right for people to be able to have access to toilets. It will not work by leasing them. To do the job properly, businesses need to be able to buy them.”

In April, a community toilet scheme was launched in Poole town centre, in which some local businesses and partners allowed anyone to use their toilets.

As reported by the Daily Echo, the council has now set aside almost £500,000 to build new facilities and “urgently” refurbish existing blocks in Poole.

Cllr Bagwell said she had doubts about whether this would work in the long term.

“The council need to do something,” said Cllr Bagwell. “If they refurbish or open all these toilets, do they have a maintenance pot to maintain them? I am not saying they need to sell all of them. The offer is there to buy the block at Baiter.”