A CLEANER future could be on the way for a derelict toilet block on a busy pedestrian route into York.

The toilets, on the footpath between the St John Street car park and Lord Mayor's Walk, have been derelict for a number of years.

They have become a meeting point for drug misusers and street drinkers, with rubbish, including dirty needles, found in the area.

But members of City of York Council's planning and environment scrutiny board are to target the terrible toilets to try to give them a fresher future.

Scrutiny board chairman Mark Waudby said members would look at the possibility of refurbishing and re-opening the block, or replacing it with a "superloo," an automatically-operated metal cubicle that charged an entry fee.

Coun Waudby said: "It is a busy part of York, lots of people pass that way and lots of people have raised concerns about these toilets.

"People remember the standard of toilets when they visit a city. If action was taken to get them working again at Lord Mayor's Walk it might cost a bit of money, but that would be very quickly recouped."

Derek Smallwood, the council's executive member for environment, said he was "delighted" the scrutiny board was looking at the toilets, but warned any work would need financing.

Finding a sponsor for the refurbished toilets or new superloo could be an option, he said.

He said: "I will listen to what the board has to say. I would be delighted to open as many loos as we can across the city, but it has to be paid for and the board must pay some attention to finance."

Updated: 10:19 Saturday, March 08, 2003