Toilet survey

I read with interest the November 8 edition of the Portishead Times where a survey of public toilet facilities in the Portishead area has been made. It doesn't make for very good reading and is quite in keeping with the lack of facilities that Portishead has had to make do with for decades to enable Weston-super-Mare and its tourists to enjoy all the facilities they would wish for.This survey by a private citizen is commendable but it does show a lack of knowledge about Portishead and particularly about the area on the top of West Hill, where I have lived all my life. The survey examined three public toilet areas in our town. People living elsewhere other than West Hill might not be aware of the facility in the car park of the Avon Way Hall. We as residents are very aware of it because it has recently been closed and condemned due to vandalism, arson and, when it was open, its use for drug taking. This lack of knowledge is another reason why it seems to me that West Hill was, is and will remain to be the forgotten area of Portishead, far removed from the 'desirable residential locations' and nice facilities being provided elsewhere in the town. This stark fact is being brought home to West Hill residents like me on a daily basis by the degradation of our neighbourhood by graffiti, vandalism and the closure of amenities most of which is caused by young people whose recreation facilities are limited to a broken set of goalposts and tired play equipment at Blackdown Road.The elected representatives for this part of town recently sent around a leaflet, which if it were to be believed, would paint such a rosy picture of life at West Hill. Those representing the area seem to be totally removed from the reality mostly because they don't and, more likely, wouldn't wish to live in it. The people here deserve better from those voted in and from the council established to serve everyone whether in Weston, Clevedon, Port Marine or West Hill which without some urgent action will become Portishead's 'sink' Estate. Patricia GardenerQuantock Road, Portishead