Sir – I agree with Julie Martyn in her letter Inconvenient truth (September 3) about closing Oxford city toilets. In particular I wish to express my concern at the proposed closure of toilets at Wolvercote in the winter.

The Wolvercote toilets are used by walkers, runners, and river users in large numbers during the week and especially at weekends.

Most are locals, but some come from other areas to walk the river and canal. The local walking groups have a number of walks starting and finishing there throughout the year, but especially in winter when light is limited and we only have a restricted time to get in some exercise.

Just before a walk, I have been in a queue waiting to use those toilets which has even included my doctor, a runner. We all benefit from exercise and fresh air, and as Julie Martyn said in her letter, people will be discouraged from going out if these toilet facilities are taken away.

It was only last year that our then Lord Mayor, Susanna Pressel, was encouraging us to go on health walks.

If you go on a walk there needs to be a toilet at the start or finish. One councillor I wrote to about this, suggested the provision of a community toilet in Wolvercote.

This would not work for a number of reasons, the main one being that pubs don’t open early in the morning when these walks are starting. Neither would publicans want a succession of muddy boots through their premises!

In the light of the above I hope the council will reconsider this proposal and keep Wolvercote toilets open in winter.

H. Burlingham, Marston