FRESH flowers, paperback novels and framed newspaper front pages.

It might sound like a fancy hotel room, but it’s actually the vision for Oxford’s grotty public toilets.

The Oxford Mail’s very own ‘Man About Town’ and features editor Jeremy Smith has been appointed the city’s new “toilet tsar”.

And now he is calling on residents to help him out.

It comes after the city council last month set aside £420,000 for refurbishing the city’s loos.

Mr Smith said: “I remember the first time I visited Oxford, got off the coach and used these loos.

“Two years of counselling followed.

“It’s important, especially in this city, that our toilets are something not only visitors want to use, but we want to use as well.

“Wouldn’t it be a relief if, just once, they were bright and welcoming, stuffed with flowers, books, the front pages of daily papers exhibited on the walls?

“We’ll have to give plenty of thought of how we’ll stop them being vandalised. This is the start and at least we’re trying.”

Mr Smith said the cost of his ideas could be met using the existing budget or through sponsorship.

He said he hoped caring for the city’s loos would inspire others to treat them with more respect.

Oxford’s public toilets have appeared in the pages of the Oxford Mail on a regular basis over the past few years.

Three have closed since 2008 – St Giles and Castle Street in the city centre, and Barns Road in Cowley. And a controversial community toilet scheme in 2010 saw restaurants, shops and bars asked to open up their loos to the public.

Now members of the public have the opportunity to get involved.

Geoff Corps, city council streetscene manager, said: “We are keen to hear new ideas to feed into our planned makeover of the city’s public toilets, and so we welcome Jeremy’s offer to put forward suggestions to make improvements.

“We are definitely open to any new, exciting ideas he may have and are aiming for the people of Oxford to be proud of their public toilets.”

John Tanner, city council executive member for cleaner greener Oxford, said: “It's great to have the Oxford Mail on board. We want quality toilet provision in our city because it is important for shoppers and tourists.

“We want Mr Smith’s help and the Oxford public’s help to decide how we best spend the money.”

  • The St Giles’ toilets closed permanently in 2008 after nearly 120 years because of concerns people could be run over while crossing the road.

In 2009 Oxford City Council launched a consultation into closing 11 of the city’s 27 public toilets to save £50,000 a year.

But following a campaign to keep them open, the decision was made to close only the toilets in Barns Road, Cowley and Castle Street in the city centre as well as one disabled cubicle in Headington Hill.

In 2010 the community toilet scheme was launched amid criticism the city council was trying to shift the problem elsewhere. Since then nine firms have signed up to the scheme.

Last month the council announced it would be spending £420,000 on revamping the city’s toilets but said this could include charging up to 50p for their use.

  • To put your ideas forward, please email Jeremy Smith on jsmith@oxfordmail.co.uk or the city council on pressoffice@oxford.gov.uk