Traders in Leysdown are demanding that public toilets next to the beach stay open during the week all season long.

They are fed up with the number of trippers and holiday–makers who use their toilets when they are caught short.

The final insult for one of them was when the council provided him with a pack of loo rolls as a gesture of goodwill.

Swale Borough Council owns the toilets and says they are open when there are most visitors.

Christopher Prime, who owns The Talk of the Town fun pub in The Promenade, said: “The loo rolls are not suitable for our holders which are sealed.

“The problem has been worse over the recent fine weather which has brought lots of people to Leysdown. They cannot believe the borough council- owned loos nearby in Grove Avenue are shut during the week even though the season is from March to October.

“They have to walk about a quarter of a mile to the next nearest public toilets which are at The Spinney.”

Maureen Wharton, who owns White Horse Leisure Centre next to the loos, said: “People are always asking to use our clubhouse toilets. The council just does not seem to care that the season lasts from March 1 to October 31.”

Michael Springett, owner of The Coffee Shop cafe on The Promenade, said: “I’ve been here 21 years and the council toilets always used to open on March 1. It is very difficult to tell parents they cannot use my loo when their child is desperate to go.”

Lynda Drew, of Pains Amusements, also in The Promenade, said: “There is often a queue of people in the arcade waiting to use the toilet. We have to clean up after them and it’s just not fair on us.”

David Underwood, owner of The Sea Horse pub, next to the sea wall, said: “The council toilets are proper beach toilets with shower facilities and places to clean the sand from your feet – plus there’s a disabled loo there as well.”