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Kicking up a stink over Dales toilets
Tourists and business leaders say "squalid" and "hazardous" public toilets are damaging visitors' impressions of the Dales.
Steven Gray has visited the Matlock area with family and friends every fortnight for several years, but said he has had enough of the dirty toilets.
In a letter to the Mercury Mr Gray, from Melton Mowbray, wrote: "I like Matlock, but will not be visiting again if even the council cannot make an effort to welcome me.
"I spoke to several shop-owners and they felt the lack of clean toilets was affecting trade as people want good clean facilities, especially with swine flu.
"If you want tourism and trade then let's give people a reason to stop and visit and not just let them drive past in disgust," he added.
Cheshire man Clive Rowland wrote to the Mercury this week calling for Derbyshire Dales District Council to renovate Bakewell's public toilets.
Mr Rowland said: "I was in Bakewell on a beautiful sunny morning and it was delightful – apart from the toilets next to the chemists.
"They are disgusting and probably a serious health hazard to anyone desperate enough to have to use them.
"I was appalled by their stinking condition and total lack of soap and hot water – they really are squalid," he added.
Bakewell Chamber of Trade chairman Roger Lownsbrough urged the district council to build modern, manned toilets, even if it means charging a small fee for use.
Mr Lownsbrough said: "It's part of visitors' experience. If you go somewhere and find it difficult to park followed by lousy toilets you think 'what have I got myself into'?
"They need a full renovation and the district council are naive if they think they can get away with raking off the parking revenue in a town like Bakewell without providing well-equipped toilets."
Bakewell mayor Cllr Pam Russell said the toilets were poor and agreed charging would be a good solution.
Derbyshire Dales District Council has said it is working towards a full review of its public conveniences.
Community services director Peter Foley has said this may mean shutting some toilet blocks to fund renovations and refurbishment at others.
The district council declined to comment further on this story.
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Weather for Bakewell
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
