WHEN I was in York recently, I nipped into the Parliament Street conveniences.

The first thing I noticed was the smell, difficult to describe, just stale and unpleasant. There was no toilet paper. The toilet bowls were unclean and the floor was wet and dirty, and covered in rubbish.

The lighting is inadequate. There is one light which throws out a dull blue glow making it difficult to see in the cubicles.

An accurate description of the 'facility' would be a 'cold, dark, dirty dungeon' which in its present state has no place in York.

I was in Doncaster recently and used the toilets in the market place. I paid 20p entrance which many people may object to but the difference was more than worth it.

It was light, clean, warm and had a pleasant aroma and there was an attendant outside.

Something must be done about York's toilets once and for all. I dread to think what impression this gives our tourists.

I did not use the toilet, instead I went to a caf, had a coffee and used their loo.

P Wicks,

Water Lane, Dunnington, York.

Updated: 10:28 Thursday, March 06, 2003