Letter: Improving public facilities in New Milton would be a real relief

This ever-growing community and busy shopping centre is provided with just one public loo facility on the rec. So what to do when a need arises at the northern end of the town? If, like me, you are of an age when, should nature call, it has to be answered PDQ, so tottering cross-legged to the rec is as hazardous and far away as a journey to the moon!

What’s an alternative? Well, you could become a member of the community centre or Conservative club so that their facilities are available more or less at all times. Otherwise, make a bee-line for a café.

A few days ago on the way into town it dawned on me that my diuretic tablets were, for some reason, working overtime and I just made it to Bradbeers, afterwards opting for a rejuvenating coffee and tea cake. Rollating my way up to Morrisons I again found myself in need and took refuge in a café opposite, dutifully buying a small coffee and sticky bun to make my visit “legitimate”.

Shopping over and facing the necessarily slow trudge home, I just had to make a final call in Bradbeers. Collapsing indoors I mentally calculated the cost of my “pit-stops”, which amounted to more than £15. Yes, I know I needn’t have had the tea cake and bun but there IS a life out there!

Years ago we did have a public loo adjacent to the northern Spencer Road car park, disposed of on the questionable grounds that it was repeatedly vandalised and used for nefarious purposes by the “male” fraternity. Thinking about it, I don’t know whether plans are already afoot for the old Pine Shop almost opposite the railway station (currently boarded up and covered in scaffolding) but it would be an ideal site for a public loo – handy for rail travellers, those visiting Lakeside and Long Meadow, as well as residents fearing they might not make it to their homes at that end of town after shopping.

No doubt lack of funds would be an excuse but what a much-welcomed “relief” it would be to have such an alternative public facility in New Milton.

Phyllis Inglis

New Milton