Highland Council to cut 14 public toilets

Highland Council spends more than £1.2m running public toilets

Highland Council is to shut 14 public toilets and restrict opening times at others to help it save more than £320,000 over the next two years.

Toilets will be shut where a shop, pub or community group is willing to offer its facilities to the public.

Sixteen premises in the region are already part of the council's Highland Comfort Scheme.

Highland Council provides 115 public toilets and it spends more than £1.2m a year on them.

It said toilets are to be closed at North Kessock pier, Elgol, Staffin, Ardvasar, Kilmuir, Ariskaig, Caol, Traigh beach, Kinlochleven, Cannich, Foyers, Boat of Garten and Marine Road in Nairn.

Either Castle Wynd, or Mealmarket Close toilets in Inverness will also shut.

Businesses and community facilities taking part in the Highland Comfort Scheme receive a monthly payment to help offset the cost of making their toilets available to the general public.

To help achieve savings, the council has proposed widening the project.

Payments of £200 to £300 per month would be made depending on the quality of the toilets.