CLOSING Bournemouth's public toilets at 6pm because of problems from drug users and others would be "defeatist", a councillor has claimed.

A shock report recently named nine public toilets where staff were facing problems including dead bodies, people suffering from drug overdoses, physical and verbal abuse, blood-stained walls and floors from drug addicts, and bodily fluids on floors and walls.

It recommended closing Leyton Mount, Palmerston Road and Avenue Road public toilets completely and shutting Bournemouth's other conveniences by 6pm.

But Cllr William Brandwood told the caring for people scrutiny and review panel: "I don't think we can have a situation where public conveniences are closed because the minority are misusing them."

He said some people had to plan their outings around the availability of public toilets, and to close them early would be to impose a curfew.

Cllr Jim Courtney also expressed concern about the suggested 6pm closing. "A lot of drinking goes on and we don't want it going in the streets," he said.

Hazel Walker from Age Concern Bournemouth said: "There are a lot of people who aren't disabled but do have weak bladders. I thought you were trying to encourage use of the town centre in the evening by a wider population."

The panel heard that an advertising company had offered to fit modern automatic toilets free.

It recommended that the cabinet should look at appropriate closing times for each public convenience.

First published: August 13