TOWN hall chiefs have been scolded by councillors after admitting they would not pay an extra £200,000 for a new toilet at the £7.3m Slough Bus Station.

Instead they moved a 'problematic’ automatic public toilet cubicle from Brunel Way to the site to save cash. But it has been plagued with problems and been closed on and off for repairs for months.

Issues have also been raised about a privately-managed toilet inside an on-site cafe being regularly closed – despite it supposedly being for disabled bus users. Now councillors have claimed elderly and disabled people have boycotted the 'not fit-for-purpose’ station.

Slough Borough Council chiefs were grilled at a neighbourhood scrutiny meeting on Wednesday, where they admitted the main reason they did not install a toilet was because of the £195,000 cost.

Tory Cllr Diana Coad said: “It’s such a piffling amount to provide an adequate toilet for users.” Cllr Wayne Strutton, who has been campaigning about the issue since the station opened in 2011, added: “There has been no common sense used. We don’t take enough responsibility for looking after the interests and welfare of elderly and disabled people, who are the main users of our bus station.” He claimed one older people’s charity had stopped using the station after two members had accidents while waiting for buses.

But Savio DeCruz, acting head of transport at the council, said: “It wasn’t just the £195,000, but ongoing maintenance costs.” He said the council could be looking at a £15,000 bill every year, adding: “We can’t afford that maintenance. We decided not to pursue it [buying a new one].” For the full story pick up a copy of today's Slough Observer