AS CAMPAIGNERS battle to save well-used community conveniences like those at Devil's Bridge, the pressure is on South Lakeland District Council to change its policy of selling off public toilets. This week, Coun Bob Barker proposed the creation of a partnership fund that SLDC could use to retain public toilets where parish councils or others also offered some cash. Campaigners will have to wait until February 26 to see if councillors support the idea.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save public conveniences at a popular beauty spot from closure have been heartened by a response to their concerns from a leading health official, reports Mike Addison.

South Lakeland District Council's proposal to shut the well-used toilets at Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale, prompted an outcry from local residents concerned about the effects on health of people urinating and defecating on the banks of the River Lune.

Allan Muirhead, a member of Kirkby Lonsdale District Church Council, wrote to Dr Frank Atherton, Director of Public Health with the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust, asking for his opinion about the implications on the resident population and visitors of the planned closure of 13 public toilet facilities throughout South Lakeland.

Dr Atherton replied: "From a public health perspective, I do feel the reduction in facilities at such a popular tourist spot is likely to lead to significant problems in terms of human waste being deposited in the environment with obvious implications for the spread of disease."

He added that the suggested closure of the toilets in Jingling Lane would have much less impact.

Dr Mike Hall, a former research bacteriologist and chairman of the town's civic society, warned at a recent parish meeting that urination and defecation along the banks of the river could introduce E-Coli and salmonella into its waters. He believed the council could even be held liable should a disease outbreak follow the closure of the loos.

Commenting on Dr Atherton's response, Mr Muirhead said: "Dr Atherton is an officer of South Lakeland District Council. His views are those of a professional, not some number-cruncher in South Lakeland House.

"How any local authority, which sets itself out as a responsible organisation with the well-being of its ratepayers as its main concern, can continue with a closure policy in the light of this warning about significant problems and the implications for the spread of disease is beyond me."

But Dr Atherton was less forthright when contacted by the Gazette and was anxious not to create an impression that there could be a major outbreak of infectious disease caused by the closure. However, he did admit there was a chance that an individual could "get a tummy bug" because with human waste there was always a risk.

"I see it more as an issue of public nuisance rather than a public health threat. It is quite likely there will be human faeces in the environment but for that to contribute to a higher incidence of disease is a step beyond that.

"People are worried in terms of people getting infections but it's not that likely. If people are going to the toilet in fields and behind bushes, then it's a severe public nuisance. But there is no route for it to get into people in terms of infection."

He said the toilets at Devil's Bridge were well used and he would support moves to close other less frequented facilities. "Sanitation is not an issue to be taken lightly. South Lakeland needs to look at the closure of toilets case-by-case."

February 10, 2003 14:30