Shopkeepers in Spalding town centre were feeling flush last week because nearby car park toilets were open.
According to business owners in The Crescent, the men’s and women’s toilets in Vine Street have been closed more times than not since before Christmas.
This has not only left customers travelling into town cross-legged, but some of the shopkeepers too.
Parkys Pranks owner Gary Parkinson runs one of two shops along The Crescent without any staff toilet facilities.
He said: “It’s made it really difficult for us, but what is more important is it’s an inconvenience to customers. We pay enough rates down here and it should be sorted.”
Karen Scotney, who owns the Candy Bar next door which is also without a toilet, said: “If I need to go I use the council offices or nip across the road to Bookmark. It’s nice that they let me go there.
“The toilets have only been open odd days since Christmas. People are not going to park here if the toilets are out of use.
“I’ve been to the council so many times I feel sorry for the receptionist, but it does make things difficult.”
Amanda Clark, of Once Again dress agency, said when the toilets were out of order it especially caused problems for the elderly and disabled.
She said: “People come in here and ask where they can go. It’s no good directing them to the Sheepmarket because they can’t park there, which leaves the bus station.
“The council needs to look after the basic things and if there’s a problem with the toilets they need to put in temporary ones. We don’t need any distraction from people coming into Spalding.”
Tracey Graves, of Rumblings to Go, said a lot of customers asked where the toilets were.
She said: “There needs to be better signage. It’s frustrating when you find them and they are closed.”
A spokesman for South Holland District Council said: “There has been a sporadic leak at the toilets, but we have been trying to get to the bottom of the problem and they are open.”