A community group accused the council of being “discriminatory” against the elderly and disabled with its decision to keep a public toilet closed.

Kathryn Spencer, vice chairman of North Laine Community Association, said the association “deplores” the decision to keep the public toilets in Princes Place, near the Pavilion Gardens in Brighton, closed until at least April next year.

Brighton and Hove City Council previously said the toilets will not be considered for refurbishment until “the risks of drug use and antisocial behaviour in the area are resolved”.

It said the behaviour had made it “unsafe at times” for members of the public and staff and that it is prioritising keeping its busiest public toilets open.

But Ms Spencer said it was a “basic duty of care” for the council to provide clean working toilets and condemned the state the facilities had been left in prior to their closure.

“Not doing so discriminates against, especially, the basic human needs of the disabled, the elderly and those with small children,” she said.

“These are - or were - the only official council public toilets in the main centre of Brighton with a high footfall.

“They were used by nearby North Laine and Brighton residents alike as well as shoppers and tourists to one of the most prestigious cultural areas of the city.

“These toilets had previously been allowed to sadly decay amid poor staffing, questionable hygiene and truncated and often non-existent opening hours.”

Ms Spencer criticised the council’s budget priorities and “feeble” excuses for the closure.

“Budget and staffing cuts are cited for the closure, yet the council somehow finds thousands to spend on pet projects such as bike hangars used by a tiny minority of the population - and already targeted by graffiti,” she said.

“Citing drugs use and anti-social behaviour is a feeble excuse.

“There is anti-social behaviour and drug use throughout central Brighton, not just in the Pavilion Gardens.

“Closing public toilets isn't going to stop it. Better policing might help.

“The NLCA has long been unhappy about the dreadful state and poor upkeep of the Princes Place toilets pre closure and share cafe owner David Sewell’s long running concern over this issue.

“Cycles before toilets seems the priority of this council. But even their beloved cyclists need to go to the loo.

“Restore our public toilets or it’s on your bike!”

David Sewell, owner of the Pavilion Gardens Café, said the council needed to “come up with solutions rather than excuses” and warned that the closure will exacerbate antisocial behaviour in the area.

He said the closure is already having a massive effect on people visiting the gardens and he had even witnessed someone having to use the bushes after being caught short.

Read more: Fury at closure of toilets because of 'drug use and antisocial behaviour'

A council spokesman apologised for the “inconvenience” caused by the closure, and that a reduction in funding from the government has made it “more and more difficult” to maintain services.

“Every winter we close a number of public toilets in the city,” he said.

“However, we are having to close more of them this winter due to rapidly rising costs and staffing pressures.   

“We’re very sorry for the inconvenience. We are prioritising keeping our busiest public toilets open.

“Central government funding for the council has reduced by more than £100m over the last ten years.  

“This has made it more and more difficult for us to maintain services at the level we and our residents would like to see. 

“Some toilets are also closed awaiting refurbishment.

“People affected by the closure of the toilets at Prince’s Place may wish to consider using the ones at the Jubilee Library, which is just on the other side of the Royal Pavilion gardens.

“There will be 18 public toilet blocks open in busy areas across the city this winter. Most of these will open from 9am to 4pm. 

“We have put notices on all the toilets currently closed with directions to the nearest alternative facilities.”