Bare necessities

FOR years Birkenhead has been on a slow slide downwards as regards shopping and general amenities and I suppose it will take lots of time and money for any sort of regeneration.

I don't mean 'big ticket' items like buying up old cinemas or whatever, sometimes it's the little things that matter, that make you shake your head in despair.

I'm talking about the toilets at the front of the market.

As the first thing you see walking up to the market, they look rather tatty, but if you need to venture inside they are an absolute horror.

I must say that I only have experience of the gents' side, but it is something you might remember from the olden days at football grounds and is always full of chewing gum, cigarette ends and other debris - it stinks and I'm certain does not have a working flushing system.

The doors to the cubicles are battered almost to death and when you try to wash your hands, you are faced with three "automatic" holes in the wall that should dispense soap and water, then hot air - but which have not worked literally for years.

If facilities in this state are tolerated you can understand why the more important things are also being neglected.

The only things in full working order are the parking machines in the car park opposite, they are fully up-to-date to take your money contactlessly.

Toilets are a basic social necessity and whoever is in charge of the facilities Birkenhead needs to pay a quick visit to the Cherry Tree Shopping Centre in Liscard so they can see what a pleasant shopping centre looks like - including the toilets!

Kevin Jones by email