The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Do not leave Angus without public toilets
Sir, - I read with interest and much pleasure your article about the number of visitors attracted to Angus in 2016.
To be able to attract more than a million people and the associated income of £220 million into the economy is very good news.
The visiting public are finding the range of activities, iconic events in different burghs and the scenery very attractive.
Long may that continue. With the 2018 Open Championship being staged at Carnoustie, there is further cause for optimism.
With an average spend of over £90 per person, many people are benefiting from this high and sustained level of tourism.
However, I wonder how much thought Angus Council is giving to catering for the needs of the visitors. Never mind a million, can they spend a penny?
Angus Council were given some robust messages from the Audit Scotland report in 2016 about their performance and are understandably keen to be seen to exercise financial prudence and provide high-quality services.
The public understands the need for savings but they are not stupid. However, statements from officers and elected members like ‘we have no money’ don’t wash when you see how the council conducts some aspects of their business.
The communities directorate, in its attempts to save money, has initiated a planned closure of public toilets.
Although it is not a statutory requirement to provide and maintain public toilets, it is surely not unreasonable for the public, both local and visitors, to be able to easily find a toilet in any burgh in Angus?
In an overall budget of £250 million, surely this is a tiny amount for the public to expect?
The response of the understandably hard pressed communities directorate has been to offer communities the opportunity to take over looking after toilets for a payment.
This policy of handing over toilets to local communities is not delegation, but abdication. Steve Dempsey. Press Officer, City of Brechin and District Community Council.