Placards and voices were raised against the closure of a public toilet at a protest attended by more than 100 people.

The Stoneleigh public toilet protest, organised by Stoneleigh and Auriol Residents’ Association (Sara), took place on Saturday, June 19, with the presence of residents and opposition councillors Sean Sullivan, Conservative, and Julie Morris, Liberal Democrat.

Bill Slaughter, chairman of Sara, said: “Your presence here today in support of Sara’s campaign demonstrates beyond doubt that there is a very valid case for retaining the borough council-operated public convenience in Stoneleigh Broadway, which is the second largest shopping precinct in Epsom and Ewell. It just goes to show how out of touch RA councillors have become with the needs of local residents when they can order this closure, having taken the decision in secret, without any discussion with the residents’ association that sponsors them or consultation with the residents they were elected to represent.”

Margaret Byde, 49, whose nine-year-old son, Matthew, is autistic, said the closure of the toilet would mean she could not take her son shopping in Stoneleigh anymore.

She said: “My son is autistic and he needs to go to the toilet regularly, so I can’t shop here if I know there’s not a toilet available. I’m going to have to shop elsewhere.”

Pensioner Terry Aves, 72, who lives nearby, said: “I decided to come to the protest because I often come down and do a bit of shopping and I think it is a terrible thing to close the public convenience because there’s a lot of elderly people down here who need to use it when they are out and about.”

In March, the Epsom Guardian reported how Epsom and Ewell Residents’ Association councillors were caught by surprise when Stoneleigh and Auriol Residents’ Association (Sara) voted to start a campaign against the closure.

The campaign, complete with a logo, called on residents to help "persuade RA councillors to think again and reverse their unwelcome decision to close the public convenience in Stoneleigh Broadway".

Coun Morris said: “This is yet another example of RA councillors being out of touch with public opinion and seemingly targeting a vulnerable group of people - as they have done with Blue Badge charging. Lib Dem councillors opposed the RA's budget which included these cuts and put forward alternative ways of both saving money and generating income, in order to balance the books. They simply don't listen.”

The closure, due to happen on Thursday, June 24, is set to save the council £7,000 per year.

Councillor Robert Leach, chairman of the Residents’ Association Group, said: "As part of the need to reduce costs, RA councillors decided to discontinue maintaining three public toilets. Responsibility for the Stoneleigh toilet now passes to the railway authorities who own the site.

"The Residents Association is not a single political party but a loose group of independent bodies that do not always reach the same conclusion.

"I have recently had very amicable and constructive talks with the chairman of Sara on this matter. I would still like to see an amicable solution acceptable to Sara and RA councillors."

For more information go to www.stoneleighandauriol.co.uk.