Closure-threat loo busy on paper

THERE may have been no loo paper, but at least Scourie public conveniences were open when two bus loads of German tourists needed to use them on Monday.

Scourie is one of nine Highland Council-run toilets in north-west Sutherland under threat of closure as the authority tries to make its dwindling budget meet.

Kinlochbervie community councillor Margaret Meek, who is leading the campaign against the closures, said she had been told around five coaches a day are stopping at Scourie, where there is good parking.

She said: "It must have been a busy weekend because there was no loo paper. As a representative of the 'host' country, I was embarrassed.

"Highland Council has put counters on some of the toilets this summer, but I didn't see one here. Since the council uses consumables as a measure of 'footfall' it might not be very reliable in this case."

More than 5500 people have signed a petition calling on the authority not to shut the convenience.

Highland Council officials are currently conducting a review but have made it clear that they would like communities to take over the management of the toilets in asset transfers.