A recent BBC report said that the lack of public toilets in town centres means less elderly folk do their shopping there.
It was said that many elderly people were taking medication that made them go to the toilet more often. The build-up of water in the body is often caused by a heart condition, hence the need for taking tablets to release it.
This is one reason why, in this day and age, all retail shops should have customer toilets.
No planning consent should be given for new shops unless toilets are avaiable for the general public. Even if this is done there still remains a problem after shopping hours. After the pubs close at night there is no-where at all.
Local authories must realise that we are a ageing population and that it is essential to provide public toilets where they are most needed.