CONTINUING her letter on the public toilets in Andover (the first half being published on 13 April), Joanne Coole writes:

At the TVBC Planning meeting in January, Cllr Jan Lovell (Independent) stated: “It is now more than an aspiration and we are committed to the re-development of the George Yard. Presumably, this will effect demolishing, in the first instance, this facility”.

However, at the Upper Clatford ‘meet your MP’ event on 3 March, Kit Malthouse MP stated that TVBC is looking to redevelop the Simplyhealth building for residential accommodation in the town and that the George Yard is not involved. So, again, who is telling the truth? TVBC or Kit Malthouse? At that same meeting, both Cllr David Drew and Kit Malthouse declined to do a wheelchair challenge to test the CTS premises. Kit Malthouse said it is nothing to do with him.

TVBC hurriedly demolished the toilets without government recommended public consultation and in sub-zero conditions only days after the Full Council considered the petition. All public speakers were banned from speaking at the Full Council meeting. Why the rush and why the gagging of the public?

With the CTS failing the disabled and TVBC refusing to address the issue since October, are TVBC now in breach of the Equality Act?

I questioned Cllr Phil North about this but, again, no reply.

The Chantry Centre, however, immediately acted upon our concerns and have now installed automated doors to the disabled toilet near the bus station and opposite Boswells. Why can’t TVBC do this for the CTS premises?

Is it, therefore, TVBC’s intention to re-develop the George Yard site, since TVBC’s publicised reason (‘persistent drug abuse’) to demolish the toilets has now been proved to be invalid?

Do they no longer want the responsibility of paying out any public liability claims as a result of a drug-related injury in the toilet block? Do they no longer want the financial burden of maintaining public toilets, despite the fact they are a ‘wealthy council’ and still hold our contributions for these public services to an approximate tune of £74,000 per year?

Why can’t TVBC just be honest about their intentions as they would gain so much more respect from their residents?

The campaign to Save Andover Public Toilets is not going away until we achieve the following: 1. Form a ‘Multi-Agency Action Team’ to deal with the drug abuse in Andover.

2. Hold an extensive public consultation on the future provision of better public toilets in Andover.

3. The urgent automation of the CTS premises and disabled toilet doors so the disabled can access them independently.

4. Reopen the Bordon Gates toilets and rebuild the George Yard toilets, to include ‘Changing Places’ facilities.

A more cost-effective toilet attendant should be employed in both toilet blocks as even just a security guard (who cost £3,850 per month!) proved to be an effective measure in dealing with the incidence of drug abuse.

We are now in the process of submitting a 12-page letter to the Ombudsman in order to investigate TVBC on all the matters raised in this letter, and my previously published letter.

Joanne Coole, Hill View, Upper Clatford.