Ryedale | Archive | 2002 | January | 24
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Thursday 24th Jan 2002.
The future of the 67 public loos in Scarborough council's vast area is set to be decided by councillors in the next few weeks as anger mounts from villagers in the North York Moors National Park.
Coun Herbert Tindall, whose ward covers thousands of acres of moorland in the Danby, Castleton, Westerdale, Egton and Fryup area of the Esk Valley, said parish councils and residents were upset at the prospect of some toilets being closed.
"They are vital for the many tourists and walkers we get in the park. We are trying to encourage more people to walk and cycle in the park to reduce pollution and give them a healthy lifestyle yet we are faced with toilets, which are a vital necessity for them, being closed.
"The proposals are causing great concern. When the toilets were built several years ago, they were considered to be necessary. Today they are even more essential with the rising number of visitors."
People could walk, cycle or drive several miles without finding a toilet, added Coun Tindall, who is also vice-chairman of the national park authority and a county councillor.
Scarborough council wants to close three of the four public loos in the Danby and Castleton area.
The area's parish council has already decided against a borough council plan for local people to take over the running of the facilities, arguing proper care was not possible on the funding which is on offer.
The parish council at Egton has written to environment minister Alun Michael to complain about the closure plans and Scarborough council's cabinet is expected to be lobbied by a large number of parish councillors and residents on February 1.
Meanwhile, Coun Dorothy Clegg, the cabinet member with responsibility for public health and the environment, said she had visited all 67 lavatories as part of a fact-finding investigation. In total, about a dozen toilets are under threat.
Coun Clegg said she had attended several parish council meetings as part of the consultation process.
In some remote areas, the council has calculated that it costs £25 each time someone visits a public toilet, some of which get as few as two visits a day.
Updated: 10:43 Thursday, January 24, 2002
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