More than 1100 people back Ross-shire man's call over public toilets to become a legal obligation of local authorities like Highland Council as Scottish Government petition gathers momentum
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A CAMPAIGNER pressing for Scottish Government action on poor public toilet provision in remote areas is accusing Highland Council of shirking basic responsibilities.
As was reported last week, John Wood (70), of Poolewe, launched a petition to Holyrood calling for rural toilet provision to be made a legal obligation for local authorities.
The retired archaeologist believes the council’s policy of closing conveniences across the region or passing them to community hands amounts to a dereliction of duty.
Towns and villages along the North Coast 500 tourist route have faced particular pressures amid booming visitor numbers in recent years, but Mr Wood also believes good quality washrooms are a basic human need for locals and work-related travellers too.
In just three weeks, the petition to Holyrood’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee has attracted over 1100 signatures of support, with the closing date set for August 31.
Highland Council reacted by stressing that there was no statutory duty on them to provide public toilets.
The authority also pointed to its progress in promoting ‘comfort scheme’ agreements with local businesses across the region. Under this arrangement, businesses signing up are compensated for allowing public access to their toilets.
The council detailed visitor management funding of £190,000 to enhance existing facilities and extend the comfort scheme, with a £333,000 capital budget for 2022/23 and £333,000 for 2023/24.
But Mr Wood called those sums "peanuts" from within the council's £586 million gross budget, and contrasted them to the combined basic salary of its top three executive officials of £377,843, adding: "That shows you where their priorities lie."
Mr Wood is dismayed by a “lack of engagement” on the issue by the council and ward five councillors serving his own area, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh.
“I did contact all of the ward five councillors, but didn’t get a response,” Mr Wood said.
“My whole point is that although there is not currently a specific statutory duty for the council on public toilet provision, there is a very clear general duty of care over environmental protection and public health, which are definitely both the responsibility of the council.
“I take issue with them saying public toilets are somehow separate from those."
Mr Wood worked for Highland Council as an archaeologist before becoming a freelance consultant. Working travels across the north and west Highlands lent him an appreciation of the importance of good quality, clean and accessible public toilets.
“It strikes me as just such a frontline service, a basic matter of human health and hygiene as well as environmental protection. Surely it is down to the public authorities to provide that,” he said.
The petition, entitled ‘make the provision of public toilets a statutory duty’, can be found at https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1955
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The Council does not have a statutory responsibility to provide or operate public conveniences, but we understand the importance placed on these facilities by locals and tourists alike.
“The council currently operates 75 public conveniences throughout the Highlands (and) funds 37 comfort scheme agreements with local businesses and community groups. These are generally for a three-year term.
“To date, for 2022/23, we have signed agreements with 15 seasonal providers, 11 that are signing up for a second year. This brings the total comfort scheme providers to 52 for this year.
“Following a strategic review of public toilets in 2018, 28 were recommended for rationalisation. Of those, 13 were retained by the council, nine have been taken over by local communities and six have closed.”
“Visitor management funding for 2022/23 is £190,000 to enhance existing facilities and extend the comfort scheme, (with a) £333,000 capital budget for 2022/23 and £333,000 for 2023/24", says Highland Council.
His petition can be found here.
In perspective
The Highland Council had a gross budget of over £586m in 2020/21.
And Salaries 2021/2022: Chief Executive - £159,499; Acting Depute Chief Executive - £123,612; Executive Chief Officer - £94,732
Total £377, 843 – plus of course all the perks and expenses.
