PRESTON council are set to make a substantial profit out of stopping people spending a penny!

At a meeting last Thursday councillors agreed to sell off a toilet block on Parkside, near Deepdale Road, for a sizeable, yet undisclosed sum.

This is the latest in a series of sell-offs which has left many public toilets across town empty and boarded up.

Now, campaigners are complaining at the lack of public loos -- many of which incorporate disabled facilities.

Deepdale councillor Terry Cartwright, who says that the toilet block on Parkside also serves as a bus shelter for many residents, believes the council should use some of the profit to build a permanent shelter.

He said: "For years and years, that toilet block on Parkside has been used as a makeshift bus shelter.

"So, I'm asking will the council use some of the money made from the sale to build a new bus shelter?

"Nowadays, if people are 'caught short' in town there's not many public toilets left open -- many of them are boarded up.

"Also, I think more should be done to make sure there's adequate facilities for disabled people."

Councillor Andy Campbell, Preston's cabinet member for environment and sustainability, added: "As part of our budget, a number of toilet blocks in Preston have closed.

"The council is now selling the land and buildings -- the money from which will be used to help support the council's key priorities and spending commitments."