THEY were once a common feature in our town and village centres.

But it seems the public toilets in Huddersfield are rapidly disappearing.

Many public conveniences have been closed down and sold off in the last few years.

The underground toilets in Huddersfield’s Market Place shut several years ago, along with the public loos in many villages, including Longwood, Golcar, Linthwaite, Almondbury, Newsome and Paddock.

This is causing considerable inconvenience to the public, particularly those with medical conditions, according to Examiner reader Alan Robinson.

He contacted us following Monday’s story on the confusion over whether it is an offence in Kirklees to urinate in public.

Mr Robinson, 46, of Reinwood Road, Quarmby, has described the closure of Huddersfield’s public toilets as “a crime”.

He, like countless thousands of others in the UK, has been prescribed diuretic tablets, which cause people to urinate more often.

He said: “The water tablets necessitate an increased need to use a toilet. Kirklees Council have decided that we, somehow, do not need any public toilets.

“This often ends up with having to urinate, away from a toilet, when and where none exist. Closing down public toilets is a retrograde step. There should be more, not less, as there has been an increase in the population.”

Mr Robinson admitted that he had been caught short many times.

He said: “I have to be very discreet when this happens, but it is still very embarrassing. Sometimes, if I am going somewhere where I know there are no public toilets, I stop taking the water tablets, which in turn exacerbates my health condition and leads to increased stress.”

Council leader Clr Mehboob Khan said: “Although there is no byelaw to prevent someone from urinating in a public place, we are clear that this is a criminal act.

“It is covered by anti-social behaviour and crime and disorder legislation and, as well as being socially unacceptable, it can be punished with a substantial fine.”

Some of the former public loos have been given a new lease of life as business premises. A public convenience in Newsome Road, Newsome, was bought by wedding photographer Andy Sutcliffe and converted into an office and studio.

The latest conveniences to be put up for sale are those opposite Titanic Mills at Manchester Road, Linthwaite. Estate agents Mark Brearley are inviting offers in the region of £15,000 for the 22-square metre property.

The loos have attracted considerable interest from people who want to convert them into a garden equipment store, a small beauty salon, a barber’s shop or a physiotherapy unit.

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “There is no legal requirement for the council to provide public toilets, but we have the following facilities in the Huddersfield area: Peel Street in Marsden, Carr Lane in Slaithwaite, Morley Lane in Milnsbridge, Westbourne Road in Marsh, Holmfirth bus station, Woodhead Road at Holme, Holmfirth Road at New Mill and Moor Bottom, Honley.”