The lack of toilet facilities for prostitutes on Christchurch's Manchester Street has been labelled as discriminatory.

Toilets on the street have become a contentious issue, as city councillors try to compromise with residents, who are pushing to rid the area of sex workers completely.

Prostitutes Collective spokeswoman Anna Reid says it's been a lengthy battle over better facilities and residents opposition isn't fair.

"They've talked about it for years, you know it would just be so good so they just have to go so far if they do want to use one. It's just an irresponsible thing. All the public lavatories in Christchurch should be funded by the Council."

Anna Reid says the general public would use toilets as well as sex workers.

"It's irresponsible of the Council not to put toilets in the central city because they'll be used by everybody."