The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Proposals to breathe new life into old loos are no flash in the pan
Scoresof empty toilets could be redeveloped
What to do with an old and unloved Angus loo.
Number One. Spend a penny or two brushing it up and bring it back into business to fulfil its original function.
Number Two. Stop number ones and twos and come up with a cracking new concept aimed at a different customer stream.
Angus has delivered both in the past few weeks, with blessed relief back on offer for cross-legged visitors to Kirrie Den, and the prospect of a seafront Arbroath lavvie’s utilitarian history being washed away in culinary conversion for luxurious tastes.
The Den project has taken a little longer than expected thanks to the unwelcome handiwork of bored young minds who put the whole idea of the beauty spot loos reopening at risk with a costly wrecking spree last year.
Angus Council and Kirriemuir Regeneration Group (KRG) defiantly pressed on with the partnership which has already reaped handsome dividends on The Hill through the volunteer group’s management of the pavilion which JM Barrie generously gifted to the town more than 85 years ago – and the fascinating camera obscura contained within.
KRG’s determination and dedication deserve praise and with the group on a roll you can be sure that they’ll not rest on simply reopening the toilets in The Den.
Many willing hands have already done much work in trying to bring the natural jewel back to its best and the group deserves all the support it can get.
Meanwhile, the Arbroath conversion hinges on local businessman John Carswell’s whizz-bang plan to convert the blue loo at Old Shore Head into a crab and lobster shack.
Similar takeaways offering le plateau de fruits de mer are dotted around the Courier Country coast so there’s no reason to believe loo to lobster won’t be a success – and Mr Carswell can then enjoy the last laugh over social media wags who have floated a whole load of toilet humour gags about the plan.
There are a load of lavvies in Angus empty and declared surplus to requirements, so we might yet see even more innovative conversion plans come forward.
Thereby allowing myself repeated return visits to the bog-standard pun of all and sundry being flushed with success.