OXFORD'S "grotty" public toilets could receive an overhaul following a major review of the city's loos launched last night.

Oxford City Council announced plans to develop a public toilet strategy — after a senior councillor admitted it could do better in providing conveniences.

The announcement came as MPs urged councils to address a decline in public toilets across the country.

City councillor John Tanner, executive member for cleaner, greener city, said the review would look at the number of toilets.

And he added it could also look at introducing self-cleaning 'super loos', popular in other European countries, which charge people per visit.

Mr Tanner said: "Public toilets are very important to residents, tourists and shoppers.

"I think we could do better. We don't know yet which direction we want to go in and we would like the public to tell us what they think.

"In a civilised city it is important that everyone has a place to spend a penny. It’s part of having a successful tourist centre and evening economy in the city."

Tony Joyce, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, would like more free toilets across the city.

He said: "The current arrangements are inadequate. If you are going to have public toilets they really do need to be much better, and looked after in every way — both in terms of maintenance and supervision.

"It would be unfair to say they are always wanting in cleanliness, but they just seem to be rather old-fashioned and grotty — they just don't seem very loved."

The review was launched after Parliament's Communities and Local Government Committee said councils should be forced to come up with public toilet strategies after consulting with residents.

It said all existing public toilets should be kept open unless there were strong reasons for closure.

The provision of public toilets by councils is currently voluntary — leading to patchy provision across Oxfordshire, where councils run 58 facilities. They include six in Cherwell, 13 in West Oxfordshire, 11 in South Oxfordshire and 10 in the Vale of White Horse. Oxford City Council operates 18 facilities, all free, down from 20 in 2003. Toilets in St Bernard's Road, Jericho, and St Giles recently closed.

A council spokesman said: "We appreciate that public toilets are a vital facility for residents and visitors. A number of different options for future provision will be considered."

Comments should be emailed to: streetscene@oxford.gov.uk or sent to City Works, Oxford City Council, Cowley Marsh Depot, Marsh Road, Oxford, OX4 2HH.