I WAS very interested to read the letter from Coun Clive Smith (Your Letters, July 21).

Clive said: "The fact is we do listen and what the electorate has been telling us is they want improved services". So now we know in Upton why the toilets were closed earlier this year - it was to improve services! Come off it Clive.

Now the "we" you are referring to, who are they, all the members or just a select few? Because here in Upton they certainly did not listen to the people on the ground, if they had they would have heard just how disruptive it has been since we lost the Lower High Street toilets. Visitors are at a loss to know where to go and locals find the Hanley Road toilets too far anyway.

Some ten years or so ago, the then district council had a policy to encourage tourism, and this week we learn from the Tourist Information Centre in Upton that tourism has increased to double this year, but will they come back next year? The only thing that is marring this is the lack of facilities.

I realise that compared with the other towns in the district we in Upton organise more events but surely that should warrant more toilets not less. The Hanley Road toilets, although they have been refurbished, are not large enough and as I said, too far from the town itself. During the Blues Festival last week, I witnessed men queuing to get into the Hanley Road toilets - this is not something you see anywhere else, ladies, yes, but not men.

So Clive, if you are improving services and listening to the people, come down to Upton. I would love to tell you just how you, the "we" of the district council, have made Upton people and visitors suffer by taking away a vital commodity from our town.

Betty Williams, Old Street, Upton-upon-Severn.