Keith Baldry, district councillor for Yealmpton, writes: I have followed the recent correspondence about the ­closure and charging for public lavatories in the South Hams. In 2013 I presented a paper to a district council scrutiny committee, pointing out the public health implications resulting from closing public lavatories. I demonstrated that the lack of public lavatories ignores a basic human requirement; it causes social isolation; encourages unhygienic practices; and is often gender discriminatory. I am therefore appalled that the council has gone ahead with a winter closure of public ­lavatories across the district. The financial savings are ­relatively small, but the health risks are high.