A BATTLE royal has been launched by the town council to save Haslemere’s only public toilets being closed as a cost-cutting move by Waverley Borough Council.

Mayor Malcom Carter told The Herald he was prepared to chain himself to the toilet block to stop it being closed.

He said: “We are in very active discussions with Waverley Borough Council.

“You might see the town mayor chained to the toilets in protest.

“Haslemere Town Council looked at taking over the management a couple of years ago, but all that does is move the cost from Waverley Borough Council to the town council.

“So in one sense residents end up paying twice. If we want facilities we have got to stand up for what we want.”

The town council protested in March when WBC announced it would shut the toilet block in High Street car park, as soon as alternative provision could be found – to help plug a £1.5 million budget deficit.

But following Waverley’s closure of Godalming’s only public conveniences on Monday, with users redirected to the borough hall or a High Street cafe, Haslemere is now on an official war footing.

An online petition to save the town’s public toilets was launched last Friday, the day after Waverley announced Godalming was losing its town centre facility.

The town council petition triggered an immediate outcry, gaining just under 400 signatures in four days, with 176 comments posted, branding the impending closure of Haslemere’s town centre facility “uncivilised” and an “utter joke”.

One regular user protested: “For goodness sake have some common sense and retain these toilets.

“Haslemere is a tourist destination and visitors rely on these facilities. Villages such as Grayshott and Liphook have toilets so it beggars belief a town like Haslemere is considering closing theirs.”

Another objected: “The public toilets are very well used by shoppers and there is no other facility for wheelchair users in the centre of Haslemere.”

Urging more people to sign the protest petition (see letters page), the town council condemned the move as “utterly unacceptable”, particularly as it would hit disabled users the hardest.

Mr Carter wrote: “This facility is well-used and a necessary service to a town the size of Haslemere. It also has the only accessible 24/7 disabled toilet facility in the town and closing this could be a case of discrimination against disabled residents.

“This comes on the back of Waverley having also tried to charge for disabled car parking, a plan which was hastily withdrawn.”

A further objection to closing the toilet block is, due to a legal covenant, the building can only be used as a public convenience or for parking. The town council has objected demolishing it would result in only three more parking spaces being made available.

Removing the public conveniences could also mean the town does not fulfil the necessary criteria to have a brown tourist sign and drive visitors away.

Chamber of Commerce president David Goddin objected: “Closing Haslemere’s public toilets would be a backward step, undermining current efforts to boost the town and its businesses. It would be another reason for people to shop elsewhere – not good news for retailers.

“Judging from the brisk response to the town council’s petition so far, and the comments of respondents, there is widespread disapproval of the proposed closure. It is a strange proposal from Waverley at a time when its councillors and officials are increasingly recognising the important part the business community plays in the well-being of the borough.

“For the sake of the revenue on a few additional parking bays, the borough council could be robbing the business sector of the potential for significant earnings increases.

“Haslemere Chamber meets regularly with town and borough councils and will use its influence to argue against closure. Perhaps Waverley Borough Council should invest in upgrading the toilets so they provide a quality service that actually attracts people to the town.

“Better signposting could increase usage. There is a argument that people could use the toilets that pubs, restaurants and coffee bars provide for their customers.

“This works in some places where public toilets have been scrapped and businesses have agreed to open their loo doors to the public.

“In my view, it is an imposition to expect them to carry the cost of servicing a public facility. And from a customer’s point of view, not pleasant either.”

A Waverley spokesman said: “I can confirm we have been in discussion with Haslemere Town Council.

“Haslemere public toilets won’t be shut until alternative provision has been secured.”