TEMPORARY REPRIEVE FOR LEAST USED LOOS: BUSY ONES TO CLOSE IMMEDIATELY

12.00.00am GMT Tue 18th Feb 2003

Having previously criticised automatic conveniences as expensive and under-used the Tory Cabinet now proposes to relocate two of them to cover the closure of better-used conventional conveniences.

Comments Lib Dem spokesman Councillor Martin Elengorn: - "Without dissent the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee referred back to the Cabinet their proposed loos closure proposals and asked for both conventional and automatic conveniences to stay open "until the availability and details of any alternative provision was established". The Committee wanted a "definite package" of alternative provision."

"The Cabinet have not in fact divulged any details of the alternatives they say they are negotiating."

"Instead at a cost of £20,000 they are moving the Sheen Lane automatic convenience to Whitton and relocating the Old Deer Park Car Park automatic toilet to an undisclosed location in Central Richmond."

"The Buccleugh Gardens toilet will be transferred to the Parks dept for summer use only."

"I was amazed that Councillor Roger Avins, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee did not present his Committee's united case to the Cabinet."

"Instead he stayed silent and Opposition Councillors had to make the Committee's case to the Cabinet and were met with the usual contempt from the Leader of the Council."

"We will ask for the Committee to be given the opportunity to consider these very unsatisfactory proposals."