THE DECLINE OF THE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE

Public conveniences are familiar sight on our streets but could they are increasingly becoming an inconvenience for local councils.

Rising costs, new legislation and spiralling upkeep costs could mean the end for the humble public loo.

We investigate the future for the public loo, and seek out the best and worst of the conveniences.

At your convenience

For many local councils the humble loo is becoming a bit of an inconvenience.

Chris Jackson enjoys using a loo with a view

Public toilets are closing at an alarming rate.

The cost of keeping them open is quite phenomenal.

South Lakeland Council spends nearly £3/4 million each year on its loos.

It spends a further £70,000 every year repairing vandalism, and up to 31 million on improvements.

No wonder that many local authorities are seriously considering closures.

More closures are predicted with new disability access legislation which will require costly access improvements by the year 2003.

Flushed with success

The British Toilet Association have been lobbying government to take the toilet debate seriously.

Also keen to promote the humble loo are the organisers of the Loo of the Year Award.

Award winning loos at Osmotherley

Every year the Award's team of inspectors flush out the best of the bogs up and down the country.

We've been out and about looking for the best and worst loos in our region. So hold your breath, it could be a wiffy trip!

This year's awards come at a time when North East England has been voted 'bottom of the bogs' by the Tidy Britain campaign.

What makes a lovely loo?

The Loo of the Year Award judge public toilets on standards of:

• decor and maintenance
• fixtures, fittings and any extras
• cleanliness
• hand washing and drying equipment
• toilet tissue equipment
• sanitary waste disposal
• air quality
• security
• access and changing facilities
• overall management

Loos are graded between one and five stars by the award inspectors.

Having a toilet attendant obviously makes a big difference to standards of cleanliness.

At your convenience

Meet Betty from the toilets at Marsden in South Tyneside.

Her loos are frequent award winners with their fragrant smells, flowers and fabulous fittings and fixtures. They even have poems on the walls.

The Marsden loos receive our five star award for being a true super-loo.

Whatever the future for the public loo, let's hope that more public loos take a leaf - or should we say toilet roll - out of Betty's best bogs.