08 April 2016
Updated public convenience strategy seeks community support to maintain access to Aberdeenshire loos
A new approach to the ongoing provision of public toilets in Aberdeenshire that aims to reduce costs, increase links with communities and standardise opening hours is to take effect this summer.
Aberdeenshire Council currently operates 81 public conveniences; the second highest number for any Scottish local authority.
Maintaining so many toilets is a significant commitment for the council against a backdrop of ever-tighter budgets, costing almost a million pounds a year but leaving little scope for investment.
To allow the council to maintain access to public toilets and to raise standards, the authority’s Public Convenience Strategy was updated earlier this year.
The strategy aims to reduce costs by around a third while maintaining access to the majority of existing facilities, and identifying alternative local provision where toilets are to be closed.
Opening hours for public toilets are going to be standardised across Aberdeenshire, with facilities open from 8am-8pm in the summer season (April-September) and from 8am-6pm in the winter (October-March). In some cases, this represents an increase in opening hours.
Funding has been identified to refurbish public toilets in Laurencekirk and Mintlaw and options are currently under consideration.
One of the biggest costs for the council is the staffing of attended facilities. It can cost more than £50,000 a year to run an attended toilet, with charges to the public covering only a tiny fraction of this. By contrast, an unstaffed toilet costs just under £8,000 to run.
As part of the strategy review, a number of sites will remain open but will no longer have an attendant. Further details of which facilities will be affected will be provided in due course.
The council currently operates a number of ‘comfort partnerships’, whereby local businesses or facilities make their own toilet facilities available for use by the public for free. Participating property owners are given a small payment by the council for this purpose.
The council hopes to extend the network of these partnerships and would be keen to hear from anybody who may be interested in forming one for the benefit of their local community.
The following facilities may be closed but it is hoped that an alternative local partnership might be found:
| Town | Location | New arrangement |
| Fetterangus | Ferguson Street | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Maud | Station Road | Close, with possible community alternative |
| New Deer | Main Street | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Pennan | Public Hall | Community-run provision available |
| Strichen | Bridge Street | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Auchenblae | Mackenzie Avenue | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Boddam | Harbour Street | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Collieston | Low Town | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Fettercairn | Main Street | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Fyvie | Cuminestown Road | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Glenshee | Car park | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Gourdon | Boath Park | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Longside | Main Street | Close, with possible community alternative |
| Pitcaple | Rowan Tree car park | Close, with possible community alternative |
| St Cyrus | Ecclesgreig Road | Close, with possible community alternative |
The review also took account of a number of sites that had particularly low use or are in poor condition, where refurbishment costs would be prohibitive. As a result, the following arrangements are being put in place at the locations below.
| Town | Location | New arrangement |
| Crimond | Logie Drive | Close |
| Cuminestown | Auchry Road | Close |
| Echt | Pleasure Park | Close |
| Hatton | Station Road | Close |
| Inverallochy | Allochy Road | Close |
| New Pitsligo | High Street | Comfort partnership in place |
| Tarland | Melgum Road | Comfort partnership in place |
| Stonehaven | Beach (seasonal) | Will not re-open for summer season. Possible community asset transfer |
| Turriff | The Haughs (seasonal) | Possible community involvement being considered |
| Stuartfield | Knock Park (seasonal) | Will not re-open for the summer season. Posssible community involvement being considered. |
Further details and timescales for any closures will be released in due course, subject to further discussion with interested parties and committee decisions where required.
The remaining 58 facilities across Aberdeenshire will continue to be open to the public.
Head of Property and Facilities Management Allan Whyte said: “While we appreciate the benefit of a rural public toilet to visitors and local residents, maintaining such a large network across Aberdeenshire is an increasing challenge.
“The fact is, several of our facilities are in poor condition and a number are rarely used, and we have to make sure we are making the best use of the funding available.
“By reducing the overall number of council-run facilities and increasing the number of community-run toilets, this will allow us to continue to increase the quality of provision across the area over the coming years.”
“Where there is a strong desire to maintain a facility in a community, we’d encourage early conversation with officers to discuss the possibilities and the support the council may be able to provide.”
Individuals or community groups wishing to explore the possibility of establishing a ‘comfort partnership’ for the provision of local toilets should contact andrew.meechan@aberdeenshire.gov.uk for more information.