London is an embarrassment thanks to its lack of public loos

Oliver Keens puts his finger on what may seem a relatively trivial issue but which is now a significant problem for many elderly people living in or visiting London.

Politicians and officials fail routinely to solve many of the big complex issues affecting city dwellers, such as housing shortages and crime; but planners and administrators seem incapable of sorting out even the most straightforward of issues like the adequate provision of on-street public conveniences, which are now a rarity across central London.

Yes, one can nip into