A BLOCK of public toilets in North Oxford plagued by drug dealers and people meeting for sex has been closed for good.

Last December, city councillors closed the toilets in St Bernard's Road on a temporary basis after residents complained they were being misused.

But now councillors have decided the gents' toilet block in the street linking Woodstock Road and Walton Street should be closed permanently.

The council's north area committee were previously told of residents' complaints about drug taking, dealing, noise and sexual activity at the toilets and decided to close them while considering their future.

Now they have agreed they have no alternative but to shut the block on a permanent basis and it could be demolished or sold.

North Oxford city councillor Alan Armitage said: "It's a shame that we are in the position where we have to close public toilets, but that does seem to be the best course of action in this case.

"People were using the toilets as a rendezvous for drug taking and residents did not like going past there to get to their own homes.

"The toilets were not in a very good state. It's conceivable we might find a way of using the building to sell sweets or newspapers if we could possibly sell the building, but that seems unlikely.

"I know taxi drivers have complained since the loos were closed because they now have to use the ones in St Giles. It's possible any money saved on staff costs could be reinvested in toilets else- where."

Last year, City Works staff were forced to clear out the toilets on a daily basis to remove drug-related paraphernalia.

A report showed drug-related litter including needle covers and silver foil was found on 26 out of 33 days that the site was monitored between October 26 and November 27. The council then tried to monitor the number of people using the toilets but the electronic counter was vandalised.

Fellow North Oxford councillor Jean Fooks added: "It's a sad day for councillors when you have to make a decision to shut down public toilets but on this occasion there was no alternative."

Toilets in Market Street, the Westgate shopping centre car park and Gloucester Green bus station are open 24 hours a day.