Use visitor tax levy to pay for toilets, says community councillor
this can be done. Peter said it is disgraceful to charge for access to public toilets, especially at a time when council tax has risen by 10 per cent.
He referenced the Scottish Government’s proposed Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, which was backed by Argyll and Bute Council last year.
The proposed tax would be levied on all visitors staying in hotels and B&Bs. Income from the tax must be spent on improving visitor facilities.
Peter said: “This money could be used to provide free toilets for all so that Argyll and Bute residents do not have to pay.
“The visitor tax will cause more folk to use motorhomes to avoid it, causing more problems for wild camping parking. Which is already a problem in places like Tarbert.”
It has been a number of years since there has been a charge at public toilets. The council said it had no option but to introduce charges to some conveniences due to financial pressures.
Speaking about the visitor tax income, a council spokeswoman said: “This will be subject to a public consultation in due course on how the levy monies would be used.
“It should be noted the council is already working on improving motor home places to stay working with communities and the private sector. For example, a new campsite/ motorhome site on Gigha, improvements at Tarbet working with the National Park, and a new site at Port Ellen on Islay.
“The private sector is also improving their motorhome facilities at Portavadie for example, Mull and West Loch Tarbert. We have also created several new Aires where motor homes can stay on land for a small fee without the need for a caravan licence.
“Public toilets are not a statutory service but the council is looking to still retain them and we are investing in them where we can. For example, we are investing £100k in Dunoon public toilet again linked to parking spaces for motor homes.”