City to lose public conveniences

At least 10 public toilets in Derby could close after the city council said they were too expensive to maintain.

The ruling Liberal Democrats said there was no money to renovate some of the city's toilets, including those in the Eagle Market and Darley Park.

It would cost tens of thousands to bring them up to modern standard and the run-down conveniences were a haven for crime and drug use, they claimed.

But Labour councillors said the move was short-sighted.

Aging population

The council said that some of the facilities would not be closed until replaced by those at the new bus station.

Councillor Joe Naitta, the councillor responsible for leisure and culture in Derby, insisted they had no choice but to act.

"It is not a case of us not worrying about people or not caring about people, it is about looking at what is right for the 21st century.

"These toilets are outdated. We know the state that some of them are in, they are quite clearly in a state of disrepair, it would just be throwing good money after bad."

But the council's Labour Group leader Chris Williamson said: "With an aging population and with the new exciting attractions being brought into the city we are effectively excluding a large part of the population from our bright future."

Advertisement

Derby City Council says the toilets attract drug users