I DON'T agree with David Quarrie who complains that nearly all York's public toilets are a disgrace (Letters, March 10).

They aren't kept in perfect condition, but I admire anyone who would clean public toilets for a living because I know I wouldn't be able to do it, and I have seen cleaners working hard many times when I have been in the public toilets.

One thing I don't agree with at all is 'especially young people, create most of the stench and mess'. I am 16 and I know I don't create any more stench or mess than any other person, and I can speak for my friends too.

That is a very stereotypical view of young people and I don't think it is very fair. What would you think if I said that people who live in Holgate are old and boring?

Mark Benton,

Cranfield Place,

Foxwood, York.

...YORK'S public toilets are a disgrace and there are no excuses.

They should have remained in St Sampson's Square (ladies), and the men's in Parliament Street, under what is now the so-called 'Splash Palace'.

That had 20 or more cubicles and was kept in hygienic and well-lit conditions. There were staff to keep the places up to scratch.

They could very easily be back in their old locations. The toilets in and around York could be the envy of Yorkshire if this was given priority over York City Council's £2 million footbridge, for which there is no requirement.

A Franks,

Almsford Drive,

Acomb,

York.

Updated: 10:22 Saturday, March 15, 2003