PUBLIC toilets are set to be demolished in Burnley - after councillors were told the men-only urinals discriminated against women.

Councillors are set to give the go-ahead for the demolition of all 13 surviving men-only toilets, which are scattered throughout the town.

A report to Burnley's public protection committee last night, said the urinals are in generally poor condition, not well used and cost £540 each per year to keep clean.

A survey of 10 other Lancashire borough councils showed only one still retained them.

The report says that although it would cost Burnley up to £9,000 to clear them, demolition would bring annual savings of £9,000.

Councillors are being urged to take the urinals out of use as soon as possible and to pull them down in the new financial year, when cash is available.

The report is part of a wide-ranging survey of public conveniences in the town, which shows the urinals and the 16 male and female conveniences cost £139,000-a-year to run.

The survey of Lancashire authorities showed Burnley is the third highest spender on public toilets, behind only Blackpool and Wyre.

Six of the 10 towns in the survey provided fewer public loos than Burnley.

Officers say there is insufficient information, as yet, to allow any recommendations in respect of the other toilets, but once investigations are complete, another report will be submitted to the committee.

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