John Roadknight, of Buckwell Road, Kingsbridge, writes: I am very surprised that Helen Dobby from South Hams Council's environment services does not list providing public toilets, the most basic personal hygiene facilities, as being worthy of being listed as 'statutory front-line services'. Presumably spending in the region of £10,000 on outside consultants to conduct a feasibility study on the retail and leisure facilities in Ivybridge, as mentioned in a previous letter, is a much ­higher 'statutory' front-line ­priority than taking care of our most basic bodily functions. I am afraid that it is not ­'discretionary' for hundreds of thousands of us to use these essential services every year, but an absolute 'statutory' requirement several times a day, unless the council wants to catheterise us and provide us with nappies. We rely on these basic facilities to be there when we need to use them and preferably to be free at the point of use. With the winter closure of East Portlemouth toilets being proposed, where are the ­families with preschool ­children taking mini-breaks in the winter season expected to go, as well as our wonderful postmen and women, service engineers and personnel when they are in this isolated area? The rise of internet shopping and the myriad of competing delivery vans makes this ­facility even more essential. I would have much more sympathy and respect for the councillors implementing these charges and closures if they had the guts to start campaigning for an increase in the ­council tax on second homes. Why should second home-­owners not pay a higher rate to compensate for the period they are absent and by and large not contributing to the local economy? As one of the senior citizens often mentioned as having been bypassed as far as the austerity measures are concerned, I too should be asked to contribute more to the council coffers to keep vital services such as ­toilets, day-care centres and youth clubs open. I would feel that I was contributing to keep this lovely area an AONB instead of an AONP – an Area of Outstanding Natural Poo.