TODAY I decided that I can no longer use our local buses on journeys over an hour long.
It’s not because there are issues with buses, but there are very few public toilets if any and at the end of the journey I was very stressed and upset.

When you have been sitting on a bus for over an hour its obvious that the first thing you want to do is spend a penny.

Today going to New Milton, when I arrived at the destination for a meeting, I had to go behind a bush out of desperation which is very humiliating and uncomfortable in the hot weather.

I did ask someone from a community-based centre if I could use their toilet but they refused, because of Covid.

On return back to Bournemouth I went into a hotel gasping for a drink and the use of a toilet but they refused and were very unkind and so I had to go behind another bush.
In a place like Bournemouth and even New Milton there should be more public toilets. I know there are some in the Bournemouth gardens but I have always found them to be shut. So where do you go?

When I travel to Swanage the toilet which should open at 8am at the travel interchange is always locked, my only respite are the toilets that are open at Sandbanks by the ferry, if of course the ferry is sailing towards Studland, else you would miss the bus to Swanage.

On arrival to Swanage the train station used to have toilets, but they don’t allow the public to use them anymore and in bad weather the toilet by the sea wall is closed.
Also the ones near the station are often to far to go when you need to spend a penny.
Surely there should be far more public toilets and ones that are open when stated.

Why should I, at the age of 60, have to go behind a bin or a bush, its unhygienic and if members of the public are having to do this anyway then something has to be done about it.

Why should I have to stop travelling on buses because there are no toilets?
Come on BCP and those involved with transport get the toilets back in the bus terminus like Poole, Swanage and Travel interchange, open at the right time, it would make the public’s life far more easier and hygienic.
God Bless.

REVEREND ELAINE GLOVER
Tree Hamlets, Upton