A community councillor has broken cover this week to point out that he would prefer public toilets to be upgraded.

Largs councillor Tom Marshall admitted that he caused consternation when he said that the town's public toilets should be demolished because they were in disrepair.

However, even his wife, elected councillor Elisabethe stated at a North Ayrshire meeting that she wanted the toilets refurbished.

IN a letter to the 'News' this week Mr Marshall stated: "Glad to be of assistance in providing you with some hectares of newsprint on my reported comments at Largs Community Council on the proposal to "Demolish Largs Loos" � this has had the desired effect of raising a debate on this matter.

My comments applied to the four toilet blocks on the seafront but not the main toilets at Gallowgate Square which are in reasonable condition � although at the time of discussion did not have hot water. I suggest that you, your staff, correspondents, readers and survey responders visit some of these other public toilets at their convenience. I suggest they start their tour at the one at the foot of John Street � appalling!

As you wrote in Cochrane's column "Although half of local residents don't care, Largs survives on its tourism appeal. You can't have thousands of folk flocking to our delightful town to deny them basic necessities." Indeed these toilets are basic in the extreme � go and see and if brave enough experience!

I have been involved in the tourist business in Largs for 30 years and if this is the standard we offer to visitors then no wonder tourism is in decline If any licensed premise, restaurant, café etc in the town had toilets like these then Environmental Health would shut them immediately � why should we accept less for public toilets?

I trust that this debate will motivate North Ayrshire Council and the local councillors to either find the funds to refurbish, agree to demolish the worst toilets or, failing these, take up my suggestion made at the Community Council (but not reported in your paper) of finding alternative sponsorship/funding for refurbishment.

Tom Marshall Member - Largs Community Council