THE condition of nearly all York's public toilets is a disgrace (March 7), as is the amount of litter in and around York.

But whose fault is this?

The general public, especially young people, create most of the stench and mess. There should be more bins emptied more often.

The police should visit the worst toilet areas more often and arrest wrong-doers. As in Germany, the toilets should be staffed, and in some areas a small entrance fee should be charged.

The council tax is to go up by a massive amount, some of this money should go on refurbishing our loos, not on the council newspaper, not on another bridge over the Ouse, not on day trips for councillors etc.

York is a major tourist city and the visitors it attracts benefit many businesses in and around York. York will lose out if her public facilities keep getting worse.

It will cost to put the toilets right, but it will cost even more if we do not.

David Quarrie,

Lynden Way,

Holgate,

York.

...SO the reason women must pay to spend a penny in York is to pay for cleaning. Fair enough. But men are exempt from this charge because, to quote the City of York Council spokeswoman in your article: "The gents' loos did have pay locks on them, but they were damaged by vandalism on so many occasions that they were removed."

It doesn't take a genius to deduce what we women need to do to achieve pees for 0p just like the men - so come on ladies: out with those sledgehammers and screwdrivers in the name of equality!

Dr Melody Clarke,

Alma Terrace, York.

Updated: 10:15 Monday, March 10, 2003