I AM writing about the male toilets in Area 1 at the Blackburn End of Ewood Park football ground.

These toilets were reduced in size some time ago. The result is the loss of around half the previous number of toilets and urinals in this block and, equally problematic, the loss of one of two access points.

In my view, this reduction has seriously compromised safety at these toilets.

Prior to the size of reduction, the toilets were able to cope with the inevitable crowds wishing to use them. Throughput was reasonably quick and two access points meant that one was used to enter the facility and one to exit it.

The two access points were particularly helpful in that people did not need to push pass one another as they went into and out of the facility.

The situation now is that large crowds try to access a much-reduced facility through one access point.

Throughput is much slower, leading to greater crowd numbers waiting to use the facility.

People entering have to push through the crowd exiting, and vice-versa. I have witnessed several occasion where this pushing and shoving nearly came to blows.

I have also witnessed children being pushed and shoved, not deliberately, but because they were too small to be easily seen.

There are other toilets on the ground and these seem to have two access points, but they are not practical to use from Area 1 on match days due to the crowds in the corridors and the volume of people trying to use all the toilets.

Sooner or later there will be a sever altercation or accident (or both) at the Area 1 toilets and Rovers management should act now to avoid this.

I have spoke to the stewards on duty and asked them to raise the issue with the club. At the moment their main concern seems to be to ensure that the ‘no smoking’ rule is adhered to.

This does help throughput, but can cause anger amongst smoking caught and this is not a helpful emotion in an already somewhat tense situation.

Rovers is a good club and has a reputation for being well run. It would be a pity for the club as well as a potential tragedy for supporters if (or more likely when) an incident occurs at these toilets.

NAME and address supplied.