Don’t close the door on our public toilet
Hotel staff will continue cleaning Crinan block
An appeal has been made to keep Crinan’s public toilet open after it was revealed many council-run facilities will close after October.
At the most recent virtual meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s business continuity committee on August 13, it was agreed 35 public conveniences would remain open until the end of October.
After that, only a core set will remain open due to cost concerns in light of the Covid-19 crisis. It is estimated between 10 and 15 toilet blocks would have to close.
Most of the region’s public conveniences have reopened after being closed since March during the pandemic lockdown.
Crinan’s tiny block, overlooking Crinan Basin, opened in mid-August – but only after a hotel agreed to take on cleaning duties.
Owner of the nearby Crinan Hotel, Frances Ryan, explained: ‘The toilet is owned by the council and has been there for more than 50 years. It is necessary as Crinan is a destination and it can completely spoil a day out to find there is no public toilet.
‘After contacting everyone, including Mike Russell MSP, a solution was found through Jim Smith, Argyll and Bute Council’s head of roads and infrastructure services, who passed the matter on to council officers Tom Murphy and Paul Martin.
Discussions were opened with the community council and an agreement was reached that the toilets would be open daily from 11am till 4pm and cleaned by a member of the hotel staff.
‘The council will continue to financially support the community with this till October.’
It is understood longerterm arrangements are to be discussed between the local authority and North Knapdale Community Council.
Mrs Ryan added: ‘The council should have included Crinan in the list of toilets it provides as it is a fairly busy tourist destination. We are happy for a member of staff to clean the toilets.’