FOLLOWING on from the stories in your paper over recent weeks about West Devon Borough Council proposing to close several public toilets around the borough, I saw an interesting article in a national newspaper last week.
For, believe it or not, this week marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the first public convenience. But do we celebrate or mourn? The last eight years have apparently seen a drop by nearly 50% nationally in these most essential of public services.
Claire Green, a reader in the built environment at the University of West England, was quoted in the Guardian as saying: ' . . . the provision of public lavatories indicated whether a government cared for its citizens' needs.' I couldn't agree more.
Just to remind the councillors who voted for these closures, public toilets were introduced to combat the threat of disease from people fouling in the streets. Just what is the aim of council in cutting these services? The amount of money saved didn't sound much to me compared to West Devon's annual turnover of £5m+ per year.
What a shame those councillors can't spend as much time trying to right the undoubted underfunding we receive, instead of moaning to us about the situation and making these decisions.
Roll on election day next May.
Dave Goodwin
Hillfield, South Zeal