No decision made on final flush as comfort scheme considered

Perth and Kinross Council have made “no final decision” regarding the closure of Blairgowrie’s only public toilet.

The local authority is keen to press ahead with comfort schemes after previously announcing they will close all seven remaining public toilets by 2018/19 as part of cost cutting measures.

The matter was discussed at a recent meeting of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council (BRCC), when Councillor Alan Grant, convener of the council’s environment committee, said the local authority are not required to provide public toilets.

He said the council are keen to use comfort schemes, whereby businesses and other premises agree to let the public use their toilet facilities free of charge.

Councillor Caroline Shiers, one of the representatives for the Blairgowrie and the Glens ward, said she received statistics from the council which show 14,210 people had used the Wellmeadow public toilet in Blairgowrie, during the 2015-16 financial year.

She has stated she will fight any proposed closure of the Blairgowrie public toilet and has promised to campaign “vigorously” on the matter.

However, Councillor Ian Miller, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, yesterday claimed no announcement had been made on the east Perthshire facility.

“I want to stress that no final decisions have been taken as yet regarding this matter,” he said.

“The budget for 2016-17 was set in February. At that meeting, a provisional budget up to 2019 was also agreed.

“This included a proposal to establish comfort schemes in partnership with local businesses over the next three years, as a potential alternative to the seven existing staffed public toilets run by the council, including Blairgowrie.

“Our experience is that comfort schemes elsewhere in Perth and Kinross are working well.”

He added: “It is also important to note that the operation of public toilets by councils is not a statutory duty. We would also be keen to hear from any community groups or organisations potentially interested in taking on the running of the public toilets in their area.”