A GROUP says closing public toilets in Slaithwaite is wrong when thousands of ale trailers will come to town.

The Friends of Slaithwaite Station are urging Kirklees Council to re-think plans to permanently close toilets in the village.

They’ve asked about the possibility of opening them on a weekend only, but Clr David Sheard says the only hope of saving the toilets is if someone takes them over.

Last week Kirklees Cabinet members voted to close the Wharf Car Park toilets off Carr Lane in Slaithwaite, Peel Street in Marsden, and at nine other locations.

The Friends believe the toilets should be open on a weekend when the Ale Trail is most popular.

Julie Devall, chair of the Friends, said: “We can’t as a small community station group see a way that we ourselves could fund these toilets. However, with that being said we are still reviewing possibilities. We are happy to help co-ordinate a response working together with other community groups.

“Nothing is impossible but as it stands at the moment we are at least grateful that a 12-month interim period has been granted to allow groups to perhaps come forward on this matter.”

The Friends say some of the evidence presented to councillors before the decision was taken was outdated.

Kirklees conducted a head count of the number of people using the public toilets they’d earmarked to close and on Thursday April 21, 2011, 118 people used the Slaithwaite toilets. On Saturdays April 23/May 7 122 people used the facilities.

Julie added: “We believe the proposal is based on out-dated research formulated on surveys carried out in 2011 before we experienced the record year of ale-trail visitors for 2012.

“In the height of summer this year the Friends recorded 2,049 ale-trailers entering into Slaithwaite on just one Saturday in July.

“We estimate that if 2012 is anything to go by that 2013 will see approximately 45,000 ale-trailers from all over the UK.

“We are disappointed that now we have more evidence of a justification for keeping the facility open, there has been no interest in taking this into account in the final decision-making process.”

There were incidents of people urinating in the streets and the Ale TrailŠWorking Group was formed of police, residents, businesses, train operating companies and Kirklees Council.

The Commercial and The Shoulder of Mutton pubs both sponsored temporary toilet facilities at Slaithwaite Station, but Julie said it wasn’t a long-term solution.

“Whilst we accept that there may be limited need for public toilets on weekdays, the number of visitors to the village on Saturdays and during special events merits the toilets being kept open at least on Saturdays and during special events,” she added.

Clr Sheard, Cabinet member for Resources, said: “Urinating in gardens is down to anti-social behaviour and not a lack of toilets. All pubs on the ale trail have toilets so there is no excuse to urinate outside.

“However, while Cabinet has taken the decision to close the toilets, we will not be disposing of them straight away and are keen to speak with community groups like the Friends of Slaithwaite Station to see if they can be reopened in the future.”