Cr Johnson should be commended for taking steps to improve the unsavoury late-night conditions along Lydiard Street North that turn Ballarat into a disgrace each weekend.

Central traders and early risers have long complained of coming into the CBD after a weekend to find all sorts of unpleasantness, including urine, vomit and even faeces.

This weekend past, Rewind Ballarat operator Vincent Heley contacted The Courier after dry-

retching as he mopped up vomit from his shopfront on Armstrong Street North.

He’s just the latest person to put his name to the problem – in December, Trades Hall secretary Brett Edgington complained of people defecating on the Camp Street building.

One simple solution could be for drinkers to use some common sense and self-control.

The other solution is just as simple – toilets. Ballarat has plenty of public toilets in the CBD, but none of them are open late at night when they’re needed.

Cr Johnson has told The Courier a costed proposal for 24-hour toilets on Lydiard Street North will be presented to council before the next budget.

We hope it finds strong support.

No easy answer to removal of bike racks 

The other hot topic in central Ballarat is the council’s plan to replace “vintage” bike racks in Mair Street and Doveton Street North with  modern metal loops.

Readers were outraged one way or the other about the move and discussed it at length online at the weekend.

Several angry people suggested the council “get our roads, paths and gardens in safe order” before going after the rack, while others pointed out that that was exactly what they appeared to be doing.

“I don’t understand the public sometimes,” said one reader, under the name “Damned if you do...”