A Scottish charity is calling on Highland Council to safeguard public amenities, claiming the closures are having a serious impact on quality of life, a recent news report in the local media has been able to suggest.
In a letter to the council, they asked officials to make toilet provision a budget priority, to prevent further closures and to secure funding for maintenance to existing facilities.
It also wants the council to identify how the number of toilets could be increased.
Brian Sloan, the charity’s chief executive, said: “While many are quite rightly standing up for sanitation in the developing world, we are urging Highland Council to look closer to home and ensure the retention of public toilets.
“We know from speaking to older people that clean, accessible public toilets are absolutely essential for many to be able to enjoy a decent quality of life.
A total of 29 toilets were earmarked for closure by the Highland Council in the latest round of cuts, though a number have been reprieved following public petitions, including Achmelvich, Rhiconich, Scourie, Smoo Cave and Tarbet.
Mr Sloan added: “We recognise that budgets are tight, but we believe the council should consider the wider impact of public toilet closures on physical and mental health.
“Many councils are already using creative solutions, such as partnerships with local businesses, to increase provision.”
Charging a fee for access is quite often the most sensible solution when it comes to public toilets’ funding – and indeed keeping these facilities open for the general public, and this is exactly where Toilet Turnstiles could really put its experience to good work.
Our toilet turnstiles are built from graded stainless steel, for easier cleaning and maintenance, and also come equipped with lockable lids to prevent unwanted access. Furthermore, the separate coin box offers very versatile mounting options, as it can be installed either in front of the turnstile, at the side or alternatively, on the wall, with the cash box at the rear.
The turnstile’s coin mechanism can be programmed for virtually any combination of coins with a secure cash box to hold them, while the additional counters for the number of entries made will enable a thorough level of control over the system’s operation.
If you need some additional information regarding our extensive range of products, just get in touch, we’ll be sure to answer any and all of your queries.