A PENSIONER has started a petition for the reinstatement of public toilets in Newton Aycliffe town centre.

George White, 83, is incensed that Great Aycliffe Town Council has closed the Dalton Way toilets, the only public conveniences in the town.

He said: "A lot of people are angry about this - market stall holders, disabled people and people like myself with a medical condition.

"The toilets have been there for years and they have a good reputation for cleanliness and a lot of people think they should stay there."

Mr White started a petition among his neighbours and, to his surprise, received 143 signatures supporting his call to re-open the toilets. More people are expected to sign up and Mr White is hoping the strength of feeling will make the council take notice.

He said: "The council say they can't afford it and that they're in disrepair, but I can't see anything wrong with them.

"I'm passionate about this because I think it's terrible. We pay council tax and I think it should be our right to have toilets."

The public toilets were taken over by the town council from Sedgefield Borough Council about seven years ago.

But town council clerk Michael Rice said the toilets are in a block which is due to be demolished, possibly as early as August, as part of integration plans with the town centre development.

He said the facility costs the council £44,000 a year to keep open and needs repairs costing up to £7,000 to solve electrical problems and stop water getting in.

He said there were toilets in the town's recreation centre and the Tesco supermarket, which members of the public have been using.

Mr Rice said: "The council took the view that as there are toilets nearby and the block was going to come down in the reasonably near future, it wasn't economic to keep them open for that kind of cost."

He added that the council was hoping to place a notice at the old toilet block directing people to the leisure centre facilities, subject to approval from the borough council.