Paris. The Eiffel tower, historic streets, fine wine and fashion, the Louvre, selfie-taking tourists and now - bright red public urinals. 

It was meant to be Paris's environmentally-friendly solution to a problem plaguing many cities across the globe.  

But this new style of street urinal has many residents up in arms. The bright red uritrottoir (a contraction of the French words for urinal and sidewalk) is being trialled across Paris. It is the city council's response to the scourge of public urination. 

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The device is essentially a planter with an opening in the front and a floral display on top contains straw which transforms into compost for later use in parks and gardens. 

However, Ile Saint-Louis locals and visitors alike say that the receptacle with no stall around it of any kind could blight the ultra-chic neighbourhood. The neighbourhood is not far from Notre Dame cathedral and overlooks tourist boats passing on the Seine. 

The local council, under pressure to remove the uritrottoir, told French media that the suitability of the urinal in this particular location would be reviewed. 

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