I AM saddened that you have chosen to continue the myth that there are no toilets provided for the use of the general public in Bolton town centre.

As I have previously stated there are several, many within five minutes walking distance of the town hall square, and all open during normal shopping hours. Compare this with the provision in our secondary schools -- where toilets are provided but then locked except for certain short periods during the school day. Who has the better deal? People shopping are free to walk about and choose toilets to their liking, pupils are 'trapped' in schools for approximately five hours a day, with lessons often lasting an hour at a time. At break times they often find only one out of five toilet blocks are open, causing unnecessary queuing and even more hardship. Frequently they find it easier to leave the school and walk to nearby friends' homes than to wait in the queue.

I do agree with you that public toilets are often situated in the most inconvenient places, either on the top floor or down a staircase being the favourite positions, but to put some on every floor as is being suggested, is rather extreme. Encouraging planners to put their lavatories on the ground floor would be more sensible, with possibly some also on the third floor of a multi-floor department store.

One place in dire need of facilities is the bus/rail interchange, where people waiting for buses or meeting friends off trains, have nowhere to go. Perhaps Cllr Howarth could direct some of his energies to this particular area.

As for cleanliness. It is not the fault of the providers if the toilets are dirty or smelly. This is the fault of the users, some of whom do not seem capable of operating a simple flushing mechanism. All the toilets I have used in the town centre are serviced by attendants who clean the toilets regularly, refill the toilet rolls and mop the floors. I have seen them doing so.

Finally, congratulations must go to Morrisons supermarket who have installed new toilet facilities in their store in Bolton town centre, despite having already provided customer toilets from the time they first opened. Well done, Morrisons.

C A Wilson

Milford Road

Great Lever, Bolton