THE front page of The Argus on Thursday showed pictures of young men and women queueing for the public toilets in the city.

At first I was quite convinced it was some sort of April Fool's Day joke. If it is, then it is very clever.

However, it reminded us of the seriousness of the lack of toilets within the city.

How can Brighton boast about how well it is doing as a top holiday resort? It isn’t, in fact it is nowhere near the top of the holiday table.

You only have to walk through the city to see for yourself.

Firstly, the public toilet situation is atrocious and has been for many years.

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Around 35 to 40 years ago the council closed all the "basement toilets" as they were deemed dangerous as there were "undesirables" that used to hang about them. There was a basement toilet at the Clock Tower, which was probably the busiest toilet in Brighton. There were staff on hand at this toilet. It was also a tea-stop for patrolling police officers.

So having closed all these toilets it was mooted the new and latest toilets would take their place. What a joke, I think these toilets were replaced by just one toilet.

The council have dragged their feet for years over new toilets ­– in the right places. The council have one toilet in Churchill Square but they rely on the private shops to provide toilet facilities.

I recall someone writing in The Argus about dirty toilets in Brighton. Many are filthy, especially the one in Pavilion Gardens.

Then we come to the graffiti, it is everywhere. Why is it that no one is ever caught, taken to court and punished?

The city appears to attract beggars from all over the country.

I am sure the council will come up with some excuse. I recall their promises. When they knocked down the sports stadium in West Street, one of the most popular entertainment centres in the town, it was going to be replaced. False words.

So city council, stop shouting just how good the city is.

Build more toilets, clean the graffiti and get rid of the beggars, that will go some way to being able to say Brighton is the best holiday centre in the country. It was once, for goodness sake.

The Argus did a good job by showing the picture of the toilet queue. It certainly brought a longstanding complaint to the top of the pile again.

Mind you, nothing will change.

David Rowland

Telscombe Cliffs