FURIOUS protesters slammed Renfrewshire Council’s decision to pull the plug on Johnstone’s public loos in 2008.


Environment chiefs approved plans to ditch the town centre convenience, despite opposition from more than 1,000 people.

READ MORE: Victory as car parking charges dumped in Johnstone 


Johnstone councillor Neil Bibby blasted opposition politicians for voting to sell off the building housing the toilet.


He said at the time: “The SNP and Lib Dem councillors have ignored the views of 1,300 local people. This is arrogance from the SNP.


“Even one of their local councillors, David Arthur, voted to close the local public toilets. They have behaved disgracefully.


“They have taken the easy option to save money and now they refuse to listen to local people.


“The council said it’s not well used and they couldn’t give anybody any figures to back up their claims. They then said it was getting vandalised and they have given into vandals.


“The fight to save the toilets will go on. ”


However, Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire’s Environment and Infrastructure Policy Board, hit back at Cllr Bibby.

The Gazette:

Councillor Marie McGurk (left) had her say 


She stressed there was a problem with people gathering at the toilets to take drink or drugs.


Cllr McGurk said: “ There was almost £8,000 worth of damage to the toilet in Johnstone this year alone.”