One of the city's biggest pressure groups has urged council chiefs to rethink moves to close public toilets in Bath.
The Federation of Bath Residents' Associations says it "most strongly" objects to proposals by Bath and North East Somerset Council to shut around half of the district's loos.
The cash-strapped authority is considering closing loos as far afield as Midsomer Norton and Larkhall in a move that could save £120,000 a year.
But FoBRA - which represents around 30 residents' and campaign groups - says B&NES has closed enough toilets in previous cost-cutting programmes.
The federation is particularly concerned at the plans to close the toilets at Monmouth Street and the Royal Victoria Park Pavilion.
Chairman Henry Brown says in a letter to B&NES cabinet member Councillor David Dixon: "Public toilets are few and far between after the last round of closures, which I believe were targeted on Bath alone. You may need to look at the rest of the district, but Bath should not suffer again."
He said closures would penalise elderly people and parents with small children - as well as city centre residents who would have to put up with the aftermath of more street urination.
"There is no toilet in the George Street area, the biggest hotspot for evening drinking, since the council closed the convenience in Lansdown Road. The council should be looking to provide a public convenience here, not to reduce provision further. Closure of Monmouth Street is certain to lead to more urination in the quieter side streets."
Mr Dixon (Lib Dem, Oldfield) insisted that Bath was not being disproportionately targetted and pointed out that the council was under no legal obligation to provide public loos.
He said the council wanted to work with the private sector on improving the loos available to the public in the city centre and admits he rarely takes his own children into his own council's facilities.
And Mr Dixon also reveals that a trial scheme two years ago which saw portable loos in Orange Grove did not actually reduce incidents of public urination.
In his reponse to FoBRA, he says: "There was no evidence to show that the provision of the night time loos at Orange Grove, despite high levels of use, actually decreased street urination. The council is working for instance to place new taxi ranks across the city to help move people out of the city centre quicker. All late night premises already provide loos."
A final decision will be taken in February.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
