THE writing is not on the wall for loos in the "public convenience capital of the county."

Proposals by leading council officials to cut the number of public toilets in Pendle by half to save cash were dismissed by councillors last night.

They agreed some run-down conveniences should go but said others on a 18-strong hit list should stay to provide a service to the public.

Amid much toilet humour, councillors resolved to maintain an adequate level of public toilets in the area and promised to consult with parish and town councils, and the council's area committees, before deciding where the axe will fall.

Pendle Council's management team's proposals to cut the number of public loos from 37 to 19, still ahead of the 17 in Burnley and Rossendale's 10, were opposed by councillors. Councillor David Whipp told the service monitoring committee: "I think they're starting off from a premise that we don't necessarily agree with. To consider there would be no public conveniences in the middle of Brierfield for instance is not something councillors are going to agree with.

"In some areas there may be public conveniences that are unnecessary in terms of another one being a number of yards down the road, but I don't think we should accept the broad thrust of what this reports says."

The inclusion of conveniences at Salterforth also caused councillors concern.

Labour councillor Azhar Ali said: "It's difficult to comprehend this closure list. We are vehemently against the closure of any public convenience in Pendle. I think we should be proud of the fact that we've got more conveniences than other authorities."

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