TOILET facilities in Bromsgrove's Sanders Park have been spruced up and are comparable with others elsewhere, it has been claimed.

The comment was made by Bob Lewis, district secretary of Bromsgrove District Council, at a meeting of the policy and resources committee on October 2.

It was made in response to sharp criticism by Labour group leader Cllr Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley) who said he had been shocked while on a visit to the park, off Kidderminster Road, to find the toilets "dingy, dark, diabolical and very unpleasant."

He said he had also been dismayed to discover he could not even buy an ice cream because the refreshment kiosk was closed.

His remarks were picked up by various Tory councillors who challenged him to say when he made the visit and that under his party's control the park had not been kept up to scratch.

Cllr Terri Matthews (Con, Furlongs) said the park, which annually attracts 20,000 visitors, had under Labour, become "jaded and weary," and it was the Tories who were now in the process of addressing the inherited problems.

She pointed out the refreshment kiosk had traditionally been let to charity organisations which found it difficult to recruit volunteer staff.

Mr Lewis said that following complaints from the public the toilets had been thoroughly cleaned and redecorated and were now inspected every two hours.

They are also locked when the park closes.

"I cannot reconcile that with what Cllr McDonald is talking about," he said. "Now the toilets are as well managed as anywhere."