Saving, but pennies must still be spent
The closed loo in Longridge
PROBLEMS caused by the lack of public toilets in Longridge could be solved by a local or council takeover of the Berry Lane facility.
Longridge town councillors are considering this as one option to answer local criticisms and concerns about the closure of this central public convenience.
Visitors and regular shoppers had complained there was “nowhere to go” particularly at the weekends.
Councillors had learnt public knowledge of the Community Toilet Scheme was scant and information about it was not prominent enough to enable people to find out who was taking part.
The community scheme was launched throughout the Ribble Valley to cut costs for the borough amounting to £140,000.
The Berry Lane facility had been fully closed as it had high turn-out costs to maintain it and was also very run down.
The Stonebridge toilet has been kept open and independently maintained and the Market Place convenience mothballed to be opened and used on public occasions.
But Terry Longden, head of engineering for Ribble Valley council who attended last week’s meeting of the council to help thrash out the problem and determine the future of the borough’s facilities in the town, said his visit was timely.
He was in the process of conducting a review of the community scheme operation, find an answer to the problems and report back to the Community Services Committee in November.
The new scheme had been slow to take off, but he said that it seemed to be gaining more use throughout the borough, while public convenience use was lessening.
Better signage to shops and businesses in Longridge in the scheme, including Sainsbury’s and Booths supermarkets, would help visitors and shoppers,
He said he would also look at the demand and needs in Longridge, and find out the costs of running the Berry Lane facility independently and, as requested by Longridge council, whether it would be worth it.
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Weather for Longridge
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
