Thinking twice

I notice that the Derbyshire Times letters pages have been full of complaints about the decision of Bolsover Councillors to close the public toilets. For many of us this may be a minor inconvenience but for some of us it is a major health issue, as this letter makes clear:

Dear Editor,

As Chair of the IBS network, the National Charity for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I know just how important toilet facilities are for anybody who suffers from digestive problems. A public toilet is as necessary for someone with IBS as a dropped pavement is for someone in a wheelchair. Six million people in this country have to live with the indignity of incontinence, the least we can do is to keep the few public toilets we have left open. According to a Help the Aged survey over 80% of elderly people already have difficulty finding a public toilet and as a result too many stay isolated in their own homes.

I understand that Bolsover has an ailing and elderly population and yet the council are planning to close their public toilets. Furthermore, I am informed that 800 people signed the petition against closure. I realise that councils are having to cut services, but it affronts civilised standards of our societies to withdraw such essential public amenities. I hope therefore that Bolsover Council will consider holding a public meeting so that they can hear the views of vulnerable local people before proceeding with such a damaging policy.

Professor Nick Read,

Gastroenterologist and Chair of The IBS Network

Lets hope that Bolsover Councillors at least listen to a Doctor