Festival season's coming to an end in the UK and I must say that while many of the toilet facilities I've experienced over the Spring/Summer have been brilliant, others have sometimes left a lot to be desired. At one event, the organiser had cut back on provision which is never a good idea as the dreadful smells at some placements can lead to queues at others, meaning pump-out/disposables-replenishment schedules have to be changed and this can increase costs and put a strain on services. And as with public washrooms, facilities that are well-maintained tend to be treated better than those that aren't regularly cleaned.

As usual, the specially-constructed wooden compost loos whose contents later go on to fertilise the land performed really well, and once again I ensured I left everything as I'd like to find it and ensured I warmly thanked anyone I came across, who was involved in the cleaning and restocking, while encouraging other festival-goers to be just as vocally grateful.

As you might imagine then, I was interested to receive a press release this week heralding the 'White Wash Restroom' which its manufacturer claims redefines portable sanitation. Not surprising methinks, since I'm told it's been 50 years in the making!

"Porcelain fixtures; marine-grade construction; full insulation; year-round heating and air conditioning; hot and cold running water; fully self-contained, independent fresh- and waste-water systems; soap dispenser; both paper-towel dispenser and automatic hand dryer (real choice!); large vanity mirror... all in a portable structure designed to deliver the comfort, appearance and functionality of a permanent restroom," says the blurb. Naturally I read on... This 'portable toilet' was developed by president and CEO of New York-based CallAhead (www.callahead.com) Charles W. Howard, whose career in this type of sanitation began in 1976. "The idea was never simply to build another portable toilet," he reveals. "We wanted to create a restroom that people would actually feel comfortable using - one that could stand up to the demands of a construction site while providing the appearance, comfort and functionality people expect from a permanent bathroom. The objective is straightforward: when a user walks into a White Wash, the experience should feel like entering a real bathroom - not a temporary substitute for one."

Could this be about to sway me from my love of wooden compost loos I wonder? And could it be coming to fields, woodlands, parks, National Trust beauty spots and the like near here soon? I really do hope so! We certainly need something like this, don't we? Or banks of wooden compost loos... anything indeed, that will enable those who know they'll need a loo if out for the day, to take advantage of the great outdoors without fear of being 'caught short'.