Public Conveniences
Lower High Street

Malvern Gazette 10th March 2006

Last hope for loos goes down the pan PUBLIC toilets in Malvern, Upton and Tenbury Wells have been shut after a controversial vote by Malvern Hills District Council. The Lib Dems used their majority to force through the closure decision, despite appeals from residents, ward councillors and all three town councils at a meeting on Tuesday. After 17 councillors voted for the closure and 17 against, the final decision fell to council chairman Val Myatt, who had already voted. Her casting vote confirmed the fate of the toilets, although she had the option of declining to vote. Speaking after the meeting, Upton councillor Mary Wilkinson, who was opposed to closure, criticised the Liberal Democrats for `whipping' members into voting with their party. "How can a lavatory be political? If they'd had an open vote we'd have won the day. Everyone in Upton is just aghast," she said. Malvern mayor Ralph Madden was also dismayed, saying it beggared belief that Coun Myatt had not acted as an independent chairman. He said all three town councils were adamant the toilets should remain open, be upgraded and have a proper cleaning schedule and were considering taking legal action against the decision. At the meeting, Coun Madden argued that public toilets were necessary for town centre regeneration. He said the £30,000 annual maintenance cost for the toilets was a small part of the district council's budget and there had been inadequate public consultation. Other appeals came from Peter Webb, vice-chairman of Upton Tourism and Trade Association and Upton mayor John Thompson, who said that more local people had signed a petition against the toilets' closure in a single weekend than voted in the last district council election. Malvern town councillor Pat Merrick said she was ashamed that a district council she had sat on for so many years would close the toilets. Amendments suggested by councillors George Price and Coun Roger Hall-Jones to keep the toilets open also produced a tied vote at 17-17. Coun Myatt, who was heckled for calling the council 'back to reality' after the public comments, voted against both amendments. Before the final vote, economy and enviroment spokesman Roger Sutton's claim that it would cost £100,000 to refurbish the facilities to a good standard was met with laughter from the audience. Coun Phillip Grove presented a petition from Tenbury residents and Coun Di Rayner said the toilets were foul and there was no way she would take her grandchildren into them.