Sevenoaks District Council has refused to continue maintaining the public conveniences in Westminster Field.  It has kept 8 toilet blocks and given up on 5 others, including Horton Kirby's, expecting the parishes involved to meet the bills.

A District Council press release headed "Good News for Public Conveniences" glossed over the fact that councillors from Eynsford, Shoreham, Otford and Horton Kirby and South Darenth are fuming that they are having to pay for facilities used, not by locals, but tourists as well as having to contribute to the upgrading of toilets in other parts of the District.  Sevenoaks Councillor, Avril Hunter said the toilets they were retaining would be "upgraded to the highest standards to reflect the importance Sevenoaks gives to this critical public service", but it is at our expense.  She said that she hoped the offer made to owners of the other toilets in the District will allow them to remain available to the public in the future but we have received no offer of help other than the promise that, when the toilets are handed over to us on 1 April, they will be in good repair.

It is estimated that the toilets will cost £5,700 a year to run but Parish Councillors felt they had no choice but to pay this to keep them open because of the large numbers who use the field in the Summer as well as the many school parties who visit the area.