Park toilets

TIM Birkbeck's article in the Gazette (November 7, ‘Park goers unable to spend a penny’, page 30) highlights the woeful lack of public toilets in the War Memorial Park (WMP).

The existing ones have been closed a long time now. Council officer Tom Payne's remark about the toilets never being for the public is curious. There are notices around the park pointing to the John Arlott Pavilion, stating ‘Toilets’. Has he seen these?

Thankfully, Cllr Laura James supports the cause of the many, many users of the town's lovely park. The WMP is well cared-for, but its users far less so. The best on offer are the public toilets within the Parklands council building — Monday —Thursdays 8.30am to 5pm (4.30pm on Fridays), and that's it. Otherwise it's the walk into town. Hardly good enough.

There's endless coverage in the media urging people of all ages to exercise for their mental and physical health. The WMP should be the perfect place but without reliable, available provision for basic needs, it's not — certainly not at weekends, its busiest time. Does the council really want to encourage use of the bushes?

Love Basingstoke? Hmm.

Jane Hope, Full address supplied.