YOBS are making people’s lives a misery by urinating in an area where public toilets were closed two years ago.

Residents living in Chingford Mount blame Waltham Forest Council for the problem after it demolished the area's loos in 2010 to save £90,000 a year.

The situation has led to demands to bring back the toilets, with people fearing the problem will only get worse if nothing is done.

Rita Williams, 61, of Brook Crescent, said people started urinating in her street soon after the closure of the toilets.

She said: “It’s disgusting, I have to hold my nose while I walk up my road to the shops. I see men using it all the time to relieve themselves and it’s terrible for the people who live here.

“The council needs to bring toilets back to prevent this problem.”

Pat Brannagan, 60, of Mayhew Close, added: “It’s awful that this is happening. It’s not hygienic and it’s running our area steadily downhill.”

The authority replaced the lost facilities with a community toilet service, which allows people to use toilets in Costa Coffee and The Obelisk pub, both in Old Church Road, and The Kings Ford pub in Chingford Mount Road, for free.

But people say the scheme is not as convenient for older people and young children, who may need more easily accessible facilities than others, and that many toilets in the scheme are in a poor condition.

The police raised similar concerns in an alleyway which leads from Station Road to Mornington Road, where a toilet was closed a year ago after men had been using it for gay sex.

PC Darren Brand said: “I am in no doubt that this will continue throughout the summer despite the numerous warnings issued.

“Without intervention this alleyway could deteriorate into a no-go area which will in turn attract undesirables and see an increase in crime to the area.”

A council spokesman said its community toilet scheme provides a better service than the public toilets did.

He added: "Toilets need to be of a high standard and facilities must be kept clean, adequately stocked and easily accessible to the public throughout their opening times.

"In return members can expect £800 to £1,000, dependent on the size and number of conveniences offered.

"The introduction of the scheme has allowed the council to close all of the borough’s old style public toilets and provide the people of Waltham Forest with clean, warm conveniently situated toilets accessible to all.

Facilities that are part of the scheme are regularly inspected by the council to ensure they meet appropriate standards and a map on the council’s website makes them easy to locate."

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