Another petition has been launched against plans by Bath and North East Somerset Council to cut back on toilet capacity throughout the district.
The latest petition against the Liberal Democrat-run Council’s plans has been started by Councillors in Saltford, who are angry at proposals which would see the public toilets in the Shallows cut back to just a single unisex cubicle.
Current provision at the toilet block, which is located next to the busy and popular marina, consists of two ladies cubicles and one men’s cubicle, plus a gents’ urinal.
The village’s two Conservative councillors, Francine Haeberling and Mathew Blankley, have warned that reducing provision to just one toilet cubicle for both male and females will not provide adequate capacity, particularly during the busy summer period.
The proposals, which have been drawn up for the Council by contractor Healthmatic, will also involve the introduction of a 20p charge for use of the toilet.
The petition comes after Saltford Parish Council also voted last week to oppose the plans, which are currently subject to a planning application.
Councillor Francine Haeberling (Cons, Saltford) said: “The idea of having just one toilet cubicle to serve both men and women at this busy location is utterly ridiculous.
“It clearly hasn’t been thought through, and you have to even wonder whether anyone at the Council actually came and visited the site before coming drawing up these plans.
“If they had, they would have seen that these toilets are used by hundreds of people each day who come to visit the marina and weir.
Councillor Mathew Blankley (Cons, Saltford) added: “We welcome the refurbishment and modernisation of the toilets, but the cut in capacity is totally unacceptable.
“The petition therefore calls upon the Lib Dems to call a halt to these plans, actually listen to what local people and the Parish Council are saying, and come back with revised plans which maintain a more adequate level of provision.”