PEOPLE desperate to spend a penny can give up hope of finding somewhere nearby.

Bury council wants to demolish or sell off nine public toilets which they "mothballed" several years ago to save money.

Not only is there no money to re-open the loos, but bosses say they are spending cash repairing them after vandal attacks. The toilets are in Rochdale Road, Bury, and at Lowe Street and New Road in Radcliffe.

Loos at Holcombe Brook and Whalley Road, Shuttleworth, are also affected, as well as at George Street and Heaton Park in Prestwich. The final two are in Church Street, Ainsworth, and Bury New Road, Breightmet.

The toilets were closed in 1992 because of council cuts, initially for a period of two years. Despite many complaints at the time, they have remained closed.

"Unfortunately, the council has been unable to re-open the facilities because of constant budgetary pressures," says a report by Mr Philip Allen, director of competitive services. "The conveniences have become a liability to the authority in their present condition. Vandalism occurs on a regular basis."

Mr Allen says that very little criticism has been received over the years regarding the closures, with the exception of the toilet at Church Street, Ainsworth.

Council leaders anticipate a further £10 million of cuts next year, and are looking for savings everywhere.

With no money to re-open the toilets, an alternative would be to bring them up to vandal-proof standards, but again officers say this would take too much money. The refurbishment of Ramsbottom toilets, for instance, cost more than £50,000.

"The only viable option I believe is that the nine locations be disposed of in the most cost-effective manner for the authority," said the director.

Two of the nine toilets do not belong to the council but are leased, which means there will have to be negotiations with the owners.

And an unidentified potential buyer has expressed an interest in taking at least one toilet off the authority's hands.

Councillors agreed the plan at Monday's contract services sub-committee.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.