Council still considering whether to axe public toilets

A proposal to save money by ending council involvement in the running of public toilets across Argyll and Bute remains on the table.

The idea was put forward by council officials in November and would see the local authority end its involvement in running the conveniences, whether by closure, sale or community asset transfer.

It is thought the measure would save the council £100,000 a year as it seeks to close a budget gap estimated at over £13m.

The savings option has featured again in a report which will go before the council's policy and resources committee at a meeting on 19 February. The council will then set its budget on 25 February.

The document says Argyll and Bute Council operates 57 dedicated public conveniences across the area.

At a full council meeting in November opposition councillors tried, via two different amendments, to have the savings option removed from the proposals by the council.

However, these were defeated, with administration councillors voting to keep all options on the table.

It was also said by some councillors that interest had been expressed in taking over the running of some toilets.

The report than adds that the facilities are consistently highlighted by communities as being important and valued - particularly in areas that support tourism, long-distance travel, and ferry-based connectivity.

However they are not a statutory service and many of the facilities are considered to be in poor condition.

The report said: "It would take a significant amount of capital to bring all the toilet facilities up to an acceptable standard.

"The financial challenges facing the council mean that we need to review existing provision and identify how we can reduce expenditure by either introducing alternative service provision (community asset transfer / sale / lease to local business / comfort scheme), or where this is not possible, agree which facilities to close."

It added that this decision would likely "result in a negative response" from locals.

Story by Local Democracy reporter Andrew Galloway.