HALSTEAD’S chances of winning Britain in Bloom could suffer because of the state of the public toilets, it is feared.

Improvements are being made to the Kings Road public loos, which have been regarded as a stain on the town for years, but the standard of the toilets does not match the standards achieved around the town.

Halstead will represent the Anglia region in the national competition this year and it is hoped the judges, who are due to visit within weeks, will not be put off by the facilities.

Margaret Eskins, of Hasltead in Bloom, said: “They do leave a lot to be desired to say the least.

“We discussed the public toilets at our partnership meeting this week and everyone agreed we are in desperate need of decent toilets.

“It is a shame the Sainsbury’s toilets were sold, really they should have been refurbished.

“I do agree a place the size of Halstead should have better toilets, and it is a shame.

“We want to encourage tourism, and we want as many people to come and see our floral displays, but they are let down by facilities.”

The Gazette has been contacted by disappointed visitors who come to see the famous displays but are put off by the infamous facilities.

A spokesman for Halstead Town Council said: “We have replaced the flooring in the cubicles, which should go some way to alleviating problems. “We have also hired a new cleaning company, who are already doing a much better job of taking care of the toilets.

“At the moment we have had no complaints from the public, and there is very little we can do when complaints are not through the proper channels.

“The Chappel Street toilets have been closed for ten years and we had very few calls to reopen them.

“When the town council decided to sell the toilets, councillors believed there were enough toilets in the town.”

The Kings Road public toilets, outside Halstead Public Gardens, are the only ones in town.

The Chappel street toilets have since been sold.