Anger over calls to make loos go public

Licensees have reacted furiously to fears that pubs could be forced to open their loos to the public.

Guild of Master Victuallers chairman Godfrey Page told the annual conference of the Licensed Trace Charity in Torquay that the British Toilet Association (BTA) is lobbying Government and councils

to force pubs to open up

their toilets.

Page said the trade should fight the move because "there was a fat chance of licensees ever being granted a reduction in business rates, but a certainty that they will be held responsible for any misdemeanours by the public."

Fears that pubs could

be forced to open their

toilets to the public surfaced in the summer when local Government minister Phil Woolas called for a national strategy to overcome the massive decline in the number of public loos.

Woolas spoke in favour of the Community Toilet scheme in Richmond, London, where premises allow the public to use their toilets.

Angry licensees slammed the BTA's plan on the MA's on-line Forum.

Mike Reynolds of the Wheatsheaf Stores, Northwood, Staffordshire, said: "I do not (and will not) intend to let all and sundry waltz through my premises and then make a mess of the loos. I say keep pub loos for the use of the people who use the pub."

Another licensee, Kevin Roe, said: "My free house will not be used as a public convenience. Who gives them [the BTA] the right to tell me who will use my house and who won't?"

Host Ian Wharmby feared opening pub toilets to the public could attract drug dealers: "How

can we be responsible for those who just wander in to use the loo?"