Visitors won’t loos their way!

POINTING the way . . . councillors Royce Franklin and Mike Buckley join Swan Inn landlord Mike Mooney

NEW signs directing locals to the nearest loos have been unveiled in Saddleworth to ensure the public aren’t caught short when nature calls.

Parish councillors were on hand to unveil one of the markers in Dobcross, which points to the Swan pub which participates in the community toilet scheme.

Criticism was aimed at the project when Councillor John Hudson flagged up the different amounts paid to nine participating businesses.

However the council backed up the formula used to decide funding, based on the number of toilets, baby changing facilities and the number of hours they are open to the public.

Councillor Barbara Beeley said: “With the exception of two, the businesses taking part are pubs, hopefully in an indirect way we may be helping support local business and help keep some of them open.

“From the scheme the public get regularly cleaned and well-maintained toilets which are supervised.

“Compare this with the traditional public toilet block — usually unsupervised, sometimes not exactly clean and not always open and I believe sometimes the site of nefarious activity.”

The nine free toilet stops will also make an appearance on the reprint of the Saddleworth tourist map.

The council is looking to extend the pilot to Grotton, Springhead and Lees, with interested businesses asked to call 01457-876 665.