NEW hope has been given to a campaign to reopen a toilet block in Weymouth following a one-man crusade.

Councillors have agreed to look again at the issue after admitting it had previously been flushed away without debate.

Pensioner Terry Butcher collected a mammoth 1,650 signatures for a petition in a bid to get toilets at Littlemoor shopping precinct reopened.

The block has been closed for more than a year and the situation has become so desperate that local shops and organisations have had to put signs up dissuading people from using their facilities.

The area outside the run-down block is now a health hazard as it is being used as a toilet, and drivers have also been spotted relieving themselves in hedgerows.

As well as the thousands of people who live on the estate and visit the shops daily, many people pass through Littlemoor on the new road into town and to holiday camps.

The sheer number of signatures on Mr Butcher’s petition should have forced a Weymouth and Portland Borough Council debate – but instead it was referred to the management committee which rejected it because of concerns over funding.

The issue was brought back before the council after a special committee scrutinised it, saying correct procedure was not followed.

Following a discussion at full council, it was decided to look at ‘all the options’ for giving the toilets a new lease of life including allowing it to operate as part of a commercial enterprise.

Mr Butcher described the move as ‘brilliant’.

The 70-year-old retired building site manager added: “It should’ve been debated by the council in the first place.

“It took me three weeks to get my petition together and I had so much support. People were queuing up to sign it.

“I’m glad the issue was debated again and I’d like to see the council get on and investigate what can be done.”

Mr Butcher couldn’t be at the latest full council meeting so instead his petition was presented by Rachel Rogers who told councillors elderly people’s independence was being ‘curtailed’ because of the lack of loos on Littlemoor.

She said it also affected all the people who visited the shops.

Ms Rogers said Mr Butcher deserved an apology from the council for the way it treated his petition in such a ‘cavalier’ manner.

councillors' views

COUNCILLOR John Birtwistle said: “In my ward there are two former loo blocks, at the Stone Pier and Sandsfoot Gardens, which have been revamped and reopened by cafe owners. I know there’s someone keen to do that at Littlemoor so we should look at that.”

Coun Paul Kimber said: “This petition has had a sad life and it should’ve come forward for debate at the last council meeting. I support this petition and believe we should find ways to get the toilets reopened.”

Coun Simon Bowkett said: “I’m very concerned about toilets closing in light of the population increasing.

“I would like the Littlemoor loos to become a project for this council where we could work alongside businesses and the community. Is there a way to put them in trust and find out how we can run it and finance it?”

Coun Christine James said: “I don’t think I can support it because of the budget.”