Council panned over closure
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HIGHLAND Council has been urged to stop acting like a "spoiled brat" and reverse its decision to shut the public conveniences at Kinlochbervie.
The call was made this week by Kinlochbervie community councillor Gary Sutherland, a former chairman of the group.
Mr Sutherland spoke out in the wake of the council's meeting on October 25 when the results of a review of public conveniences in the region was discussed.
In north and west Sutherland, nine toilets were on the danger list but six escaped the axe – Achmelvich, Lairg, Rhiconich, Scourie, Smoo Cave and Tarbet.
However it was agreed to close the loos at Kinlochbervie and to sell the ones at Kylesku and Talmine on the open market.
Initially campaigners were delighted with the outcome.
But Mr Sutherland claimed this week that Highland Council had gone back on a pledge not to shut toilets that opened year round, including Kinlochbervie.
He said: "For those in ward one it was a largely successful campaign with most of those originally slated for closure now remaining open or likely to transfer into other hands, but the big surprise was that the toilets in Kinlochbervie would close at the end of October."
Mr Sutherland said that at a public meeting earlier this year Highland Council's amenities manager Debbie Sutton had "repeatedly assured residents that those all-year-round toilets for which an alternative could not be arranged would remain open".
He said: "In this matter alone Highland Council has demonstrated that its word cannot be trusted.
"Initially they claimed that the toilets in the nearby fish market would be an acceptable alternative but whoever came up with that idea had never visited them.
"Not only are the fish market toilets unisex, but they are also in the centre of an industrial area with forklift trucks buzzing about... add to this the wet, oily floor and you have a recipe for disaster.
"The next suggestion was that the toilets at Oldshoremore, a few miles away, could be used. Again lack of intelligence brought this crashing down as these toilets are summer only.
"Finally, they've said that the toilets at Blairmore, several miles away. Now, I've no idea whether they have discussed this with the owners the John Muir Trust, but this toilet is already running to capacity and is unlikely to be able to cope with additional visitors."
Mr Sutherland added: "Come on, Highland Council. Stop acting like spoiled brats, set malice aside and announce that Kinlochbervie's public toilets will remain open for the foreseeable future."
Fellow Kinlochbervie community councillor Margaret Meek led the fight against the closures.
She said: "The community council wrote before the meeting and asked that the KLB Harbour toilets not be closed until there was suitable alternative provision. Our emails were not answered by anyone and the report was not changed."
