CAMPAIGNERS are calling for urgent action for more public loos.

The British Toilet Association (BTA) has said residents are being “caught short” because there aren’t enough places where they can answer the call of nature.

And it has urged council chiefs to relieve the situation, arguing that the provision of public toilets should be considered a “human right.”

The BTA is calling for new legislation that forces councils to provide enough facilities for the elderly, disabled people and tourists.

A spokesman for the Use Our Loos campaign, run by Domestos in partnership with the BTA and Great British Public Toilet Map, said: “Public toilets are an essential piece of infrastructure for all types of users as they fulfil a significant role in our health and ongoing wellbeing.

“If we can’t dispel the poisons building up inside our guts then we run the risk of falling sick or ill during our working day or when driving.

“The continued closure of publicly accessible toilets will inevitability lead to greatly increased public urination and street fouling and, thereby, increased financial burdens on both councils and the police.

Barrhead News: Green MSP Alison Johnstone

Scottish Greeens MSP Alison Johnstone said the decline in public toilets is bad for public health 

“As human beings, we need to eat, sleep, drink, breathe and go to the toilet. 

“Failure to do any one of these life functions will inevitability become life threatening, so each should be considered a human right and a human necessity.”

At present, there are only two publicly accessible toilets in Renfrewshire, while East Renfrewshire has none.

Across Scotland as a whole, there are now 724 council-run public loos – 185 fewer than in 2013.

This statistic has led to concerns that councils, which are not legally required to provide toilets, are increasingly looking to offload the responsibility for them or to close them to cut costs.

Scottish Greens health spokesperson Alison Johnstone said the decline in public toilets is bad for public health as many people have conditions that are more manageable where there is easy access to facilities.

She added: “It’s bad for our communities as many people are put off using town and city-centre parks and other public spaces when there’s no toilet nearby.” 

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “The Council has a number of publicly available toilets within park pavilions and council buildings across the authority.”

Barrhead News:

Both of Renfrewshire's public toilets - including these ones in Barshaw Park - are in Paisley

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “Renfrewshire Council currently maintain two publicly accessible toilet facilities in Barshaw Park and Hawkhead Cemetery.

“Members of the public are also welcome to use bathroom facilities within the council’s public buildings.”