Minister says cash is available for public toilets

CASH strapped Highland Council has been urged to apply for money from a central government pot to safeguard the future of the region’s under-threat public toilets – many of them in Ross-shire.

Tourism secretary Fiona Hyslop suggested the council apply for cash from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, set up recently in response to concerns that booming visitor numbers were overwhelming existing infrastructure in parts of the country.

And she has also called on the local authority to reverse its plans to review 29 public toilets – including sites in Dingwall, Kinlochewe, Portmahomack, Avoch, Fortrose, Rosemarkie and the A9 at North Kessock.

Responding to calls for the Scottish Government to step into the row, Ms Hyslop said: "The Scottish Government fully appreciates visitors’ need for basic provisions such as public conveniences. Although the provision of public toilets is a non-statutory function of local authorities, the Scottish Government ensured that the criteria for the fund did include capital support for toilet provision, where there was a demonstrable need."

She added that she was aware of the council’s toilet closure plans and said she had "personally pressed" the local authority to reconsider.

Council leader Margaret Davidson said the cuts were part of wider measures to "balance the budget and safeguard essential services" amid a climate of reduced funding for councils across Scotland and the wider UK.

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