Toilet plan is ‘flushing money away’

Labour-led Sheffield Council announced the public conveniences would close to help the authority meet £50m of Government-imposed savings.

But Liberal Democrat councillors said the scheme amounted to “flushing away” taxpayers’ money and said it would only save the authority £68,000 in any case.

Coun Ian Auckland said the council had recently appointed a “director of integration” on £80,000 a year, and challenged his opponents over their strategy.

He said new buildings at Rivelin Post Office and Abbey Lane in Sheffield cost £70,000 and £73,000 respectively, under the previous Lib Dem administration.

Coun Auckland, who represents the Graves Park ward where new toilets were recently built, added: “Local residents fought long and hard for new community toilets on Abbey Lane.

“I’m proud that we were able to invest in new facilities. Closing those toilets just a few years later would be like flushing that investment down the pan.”