Sir,

The county council boasts that we in Pembrokeshire have 91 public toilets, more than any other local authority in Wales, and of these, only 22 have been closed from November to Easter.

This is all very fine, but it still does not address the issue of the locked public toilet located at the East End of Pembroke.

I am aware that there is a scheme by which private businesses receive £500 to open up their facilities for public usage, but Mrs. Angela Stock, who heads this scheme, tells me that her funds are limited to four premises per town.

There are already four premises open to visitors and residents in Pembroke, but these are to be found at the other end of town!

It could be argued that the public if necessary could use the amenities offered by our four pubs. However, although these premises are all perfectly clean and tidy, what self-respecting unaccompanied, elderly, or pregnant lady would like to run the gauntlet of a predominantly male bar in order to reach the lavatories? One can almost hear the chants of "We know where you're going!" ringing in our ears.

Not good enough Pembrokeshire County Council. We bang on about human rights in this country, being able to use a public toilet is a basic human right. Open them up.

Melanie Phillips,

Pembroke.