Toilets needed on North Coast route to support local business
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The owner of a new arts hub in Sutherland, who is inviting passers by on the North Coast 500 route to spend a pound on local crafts, says customers are being caught short when they want to spend a penny.
The Crafty Shack at Talmine, near Melness opened up last Saturday with more than 50 people over the door on its first day alone. But in spite of being right next to a public toilet, the one-roomed business promoting the work of local crafts people, has had to send people miles away to go to the toilet.
The Crafty Shack's owner, Moira Ross (61) said that she had contacted Highland Council many times about the prospect of reopening the toilets before and after the pandemic, but to date no one has called her back.
Mrs Ross, who moved to the area with her husband last November after 20 years of visiting, said she was even prepared to clean the toilets, just to have them open and available for the large numbers of people on the NC500 route.
Mrs Ross said: "The idea of the business is that local craftsfolk making items such as knitting, woodwork, glass, jewellery, art and photography, can sell their goods through the shop.
"Otherwise people wouldn't have an outlet in the area. It really is good for everybody that people can sell their work and make some money from what they do.
"I am working out of one room and there is no toilet in the building. Although I have only been open a few days I am already asked by people if there is a toilet that they can use. And of course there is a toilet – it is just that no one is able to use it. Which is a real shame. I really would like someone, anyone, to get back to me."
A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “These toilets were closed permanently as part of the 2018 restructure.
"There has never been any discussion or commitment to re-open this or any other facility that was closed following restructuring.
“As with all other affected public conveniences, third parties can ask for a lease or ‘License to Occupy’ if they have the relevant structure in place or the buildings have been deemed as suitable for the open market. Talmine is one of the buildings that is on the list for the market as, to date, no one has shown a genuine interest in taking the building on.”
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