THE chairman of an influential pensioners' group has slammed the council for not listening to its views on the future of public toilets in the borough.

Four public toilets were closed last year and the future of a further 12 hangs in the balance, despite reassurances from cabinet members that there are no imminent plans to sell-off any buildings.

At a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday June 12 around 15 pensioners attended to make their views heard.

John Coombes, 72, chairman of the Redbridge Pensioners’ Forum, has criticised the council for not taking the views of the group into consideration.

He said: “We turned up hoping to have our say but were not given the opportunity because unfortunately we had not let the council know we wanted to speak by 5pm the previous day.

”We know they have rules and I think they could have broken them just once for us, especially as there was a space because another speaker hadn’t turned up.

“Quite frankly they do not seem interested in saving public toilets, so when they became old and incontinent they won't have anywhere to use the toilet as they will have got rid of them all.

“They have to remember that us pensioners vote and our views are important.

“It’s not just the elderly who will suffer, mothers with their young children will also feel the consequences.

“We are not letting this lie and will be taking it to the National Pensioners’ Convention as it’s not just London or Redbridge which are affected.”

Cllr Sue Nolan, cabinet member for environment, said: “There are no plans to sell off any of the public conveniences at the moment. But who is to say what will happen in 18 months or two years’ time?

“I can’t speak for the future.”

This view was echoed by a council spokesman who said there are no current proposals for further closures of public conveniences.