THE best used public toilets in Bolton town centre have been closed down by the council to save money, despite a long running campaign to keep them open.

The decision has caused uproar among campaigners who thought the toilets - beneath the Bridge Street Market Hall piazza - had been reprieved.

After a public outcry last December, planning and environment councillors agreed to think again about plans to shut two town centre toilets in Bridge Street and Nelson Square as part of £1.3 million budget cuts.

Councillors were told that up to £58,000 could be saved by shutting Bridge Street toilets and £50,000 by closing Nelson Square.

Now the council has decided to close the Bridge Street toilets but spare those beneath Nelson Square. Allan Horsfall who heads the lobbying group Convenience said: "I am horrified. I thought the toilets had been saved but obviously I was mistaken.

"Bolton Council is moving in totally the wrong direction and is neglecting the town centre.

"But I have seen it all happen before. The council make an announcement, there's a row and they yield to public pressure. But when all the concern dies down they close it down by stealth."

Derek Philburn, attendant at the gents' toilets for the past 16 months, says the first he knew about the closure was on Monday morning.

"Fortunately I have not lost my job as the supervisor told me I will be kept on at other toilets.

"But there were a lot of complaints from customers when they found out about it."

Jeff Layer, head of the council's environmental management, said: "There are a number of reasons for the closure.

"Firstly there is a significant problem

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