I READ about Oxford City Council’s proposal of the possible closure of 11 of the city’s 27 public loos (Oxford Mail, June 27), in order to save £50,000.

Some neighbours came home this evening (Sunday) after a large gathering with family and friends in Florence Park. They said the park was full of people enjoying a balmy summer’s afternoon, but were furious because the loos in the park were closed and, according to what the ice cream vendor told them, the loos had been closed since December.

A notice on the doors informed the public to use the toilets in Templars Square.

Apparently people were taking to the hedgerows for a pee, as although Templars Square may only be a 10-minute walk for the fittest, it was darn well inconvenient. Other people, those with young children and certainly those who may have bladder problems may not make it in time.

John Tanner says he wants to ask the public, namely the residents, students and tourists, their opinion before any decision is made, but will public opinion count for much?

Has this issue already been rubber stamped without debate?

A number of the proposed closures are outside the city walls and on estates such as Blackbird Leys, where the loos in Knights Road are an issue.

Why doesn’t the council have loos as at Bourton-on-the-Water, where each toilet is separate and can only be opened with a 20p piece? This may stop misuse, vandalism and overnight guests. Toilets in places like Florence Park should certainly be open in daylight hours and could be locked at night.

As the county council have the lion’s share of council tax, perhaps of the £3m they proposed to spend on more pedestrianisation, they could give the city council £1m to upgrade all the loos and keep them open.

I can’t imagine how it will cost £3m to move a few bus stops out of Queen Street and the like – or are they going to start resurfacing, wasting money.

The pavements in Queen Street are flush with the road surface now. The tax payer doesn’t want a repeat of the Cornmarket Street cock-up. Then there is the waste of £2m on Bonn Square where a more pleasant aspect with paving slabs and borders with shrubs at much less cost could have been carried out.

MICHAEL CLARKE Lewell Avenue Old Marston, Oxford