POSSIBLE REPRIEVE FOR PUBLIC LOOS?

12.00.00am GMT Wed 12th Feb 2003

At tonight's Environment and Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet Member Cllr Nicky Urquhart was asked to take away her proposal to close nearly all the Borough's highways public conveniences and come back only if she can produce a more thoroughly considered proposal.

Commented Cllr Martin Elengorn, one of the two Lib Dem Councillors whose call-in provided the opportunity for further reflection " It became very clear that the Cabinet had made a hasty and ill-considered decision and that Cllr Urquhart was desperately trying to come up with palliatives in terms of approaches only now being made to owners of possible alternative facilities."

"It was quite unclear how many if any of these would be successfully negotiated or whether they would be conveniently located. Meanwhile the plan was to close all the conventional toilets immediately."

"Members of the public and independent members of the Committee were unanimous in their condemnation of this rushed and half-baked scheme."

"Nem con the Committee voted to refer the proposal back to the Cabinet and ask them to think again."

"Commented Martin "From other items on the agenda it was apparent that there was money available to achieve a solution if this service was given higher priority. The Scrutiny process was seen to be working as Committee members of all parties and none demanded a rethink."