MOTHERS and children are having to go into public houses to spend a penny because there are no public toilets in Rishton, says a concerned local councillor.

But the borough council has no cash for any new public loos in any of the outer townships across Hyndburn.

The environmental services committee last night agreed to push for funding for automatic toilets to be included in next year's capital programme.

But a plea from coun Russell Davies for Rishton to go to the front of the queue, if cash becomes available, fell on deaf ears.

Councillors agreed that the order of the proposed rolling programme should remain Clayton-le-Moors, followed by Rishton and then Church.

Coun Davies wanted to know why Rishton came below Clayton-le-Moors when there were toilets in the library in Clayton. He said: "It horrifies me Rishton always has a lowly place.

"What do you want the people of Rishton to do, run around with crossed legs?

"It's not fair mothers and children should have to go into public houses.

"Rishton is a small but very busy town centre and it should have this basic facility."

Committee chairman, coun Len Dickinson, said every township had lost public toilets mainly due to vandalism of the traditional type of conveniences.

The only ones left were in Accrington town centre, and those in Oswaldtwistle which were costing " an arm and a leg" to keep open.

Coun Dickinson, who represents Church which is at the bottom of the list, added: "Something has to be first, something in the middle and something last.

"In my opinion everyone is entitled to public conveniences, but we have to provide the money to do that."

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