Final flush looms for Blair’s last public loo

COUNCIL: No more public toilets to remain in the town due to cost-cutting measures despite 15,000 users

The only public toilet in an east Perthshire town could be closed due to cost-cutting measures.

The toilet at the Wellmeadow in Blairgowrie will be axed within the next three years despite almost 15,000 people using it from 2015/16.

Councillor Caroline Shiers, one of the representatives for the Blairgowrie and Glens ward, said she will campaign “vigorously” against the proposed closure.

Perth and Kinross Council announced it would be closing the seven remaining manned public toilets in the region by 2018/19 as part of budget measures set in February. It is estimated this would save the local authority around £170,000 annually and lead to the public toilets being replaced by ‘comfort schemes’.

Businesses and other premises will be expected to agree to let the public use their toilet facilities free of charge.

The topic was discussed at a recent meeting of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council (BRCC), where Ms Shiers said she feared there was a “capacity issue” for businesses taking part in the comfort scheme.

She said: “I will campaign against these toilet closures vigorously as I believe that towns like Blairgowrie, which still has a tourism trade and which we promote as a visitor destination, need public facilities for visitors and for locals. There will be debate over the coming months on this matter and it is important that the community, businesses and tourism providers have their say.”

Ms Shiers had obtained a figure of 14,210 people who had used the public toilet in Blairgowrie during the 2015-16 financial year, from Perth and Kinross Council.

Morag Young, chairwoman of BRCC, told the meeting she felt comfort schemes may work in the likes of Perth, but are unsuitable for Blairgowrie, given its appeal as a tourist destination.

Councillor Alan Grant, one of the representatives for the Strathmore ward and convener of the council’s environment committee, was invited to the BRCC event and told those who attended that the local authority do not have to provide toilets. He said it was his view that the council was best served to make savings in areas where it was under no obligation to provide a service.

Mr Grant also said that although the move to close the seven remaining public toilets in Perth and Kinross affected 14 staff “in theory”, there are currently five vacancies. However, he added it is envisaged all those affected by the plans will be moved to other jobs within the council.

There will be debate over the coming months on this matter and it is important that the community, businesses and tourism providers have their say.

COUNCILLOR CAROLINE SHIERS