OUR investigation last spring, which revealed the unsavoury truth about York's public toilets, kicked up a stink. We discovered that many of the facilities were smelly and filthy, and the worst - in Museum Gardens - was strewn with drugs paraphernalia.

The response was swift. The city centre manager told us it was all to do with a staff shortfall. "I've taken steps to ensure it never happens again," he said.

Coun Derek Smallwood, York council's executive member for the environment apologised to residents, adding: "Obviously we have taken measures to make sure that can't happen again."

We returned to the loos a month later, during the Golden Jubilee holiday weekend. There were some improvements, but many toilets were still squalid.

Now we have carried out our first inspection of 2003. Many of the facilities were still revolting, but the worst - in Museum Gardens again - was in an even poorer state: still filthy, and now shut. Summing up the civic neglect is the sign promising it will reopen on "March 31, 2001".

This is appalling. A year ago, everyone was in agreement: York's dark, dank, dirty public toilets were an affront to residents and tourists. We were promised action. Yet, if anything, conditions have deteriorated.

The state of the loos stands in sharp contrast to York's nomination for tidiest city.

What can be done? The council has already agreed to put the cleaning contract out to tender at the end of the year. Councillors might visit East Lothian council near Edinburgh to find out how it won first place in last year's Loo of the Year awards. They should also investigate if charging a nominal fee for public toilets could guarantee first-class facilities.

However, some of the behaviour that seems to go on in and around public toilets is beyond belief. Our sympathies go to the council workers who have to clean up the apalling mess left behind.

As for the tourist year just starting, York council must forget about grand projects such as a new footbridge over the Ouse until it can deliver the basics, such as toilets fit for human use.

Updated: 10:12 Friday, March 07, 2003