Ring of Brodgar: Temporary toilets ruled out for Orkney landmark

The area nearby the famous Neolithic ceremonial site has been described as "an open air toilet"

Temporary loos will not be installed at Orkney's famous Ring of Brodgar stone circle, despite concerns over "undesirable toileting behaviour".

Councillors in Orkney upheld the decision not to fit the toilets at a meeting on Tuesday.

The move was met by "dismay" from a tourist group which said the nearby area had become "an open air toilet".

But council leader James Stockan said the ancient site was not the local authority's responsibility.

• Concerns as visitors caught short at Orkney landmark

Costs for putting in place, maintaining and cleaning temporary toilets for the main tourist season were estimated at up to £95,000 over a three-year period.

But Councillor Leslie Manson said the offer from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to contribute £4,000 towards the costs was "shameful" and "a joke".

HES said that had been an initial offer for the first financial year of the scheme. It added it would be happy to look at scope to increase support for future years, if the project went ahead.

Tourism brought in an estimated 320,000 visitors to Orkney last year, spending tens of millions of pounds.

Many of them now visit the islands on cruise liners.

'Major environmental health issue'

Destination Orkney expressed "dismay" at the council's decision and said installing toilets at the Ring of Brodgar was "an absolute necessity".

In an open letter to councillors it said a loch shoreline close to the Brodgar coach park had become "an open air toilet" and that this was "a major environmental health issue".

A report to councillors on Orkney Island Council's policy and resources committee to earlier this month said: "The increasing volume of visitors to the Ring of Brodgar and lack of toilet provision has led to undesirable toileting behaviour near the car park, which has been highlighted as a key concern.

"It is considered possible, but highly challenging, to achieve a decision on planning in time to enable provision for the 2024 tourist season."

The council meeting on Tuesday decided that the toilet proposals should be deferred back to its development and infrastructure committee.

'Sticky problem'

Mr Stockan admitted it was a "sticky, long-term problem for the council", but added that HES provided toilets "in every other place they take people" - including Orkney's Skara Brae and Maeshowe.

Mr Manson said a "robust, publicly visible debate" would need to take place with HES.

He also said other sites in Orkney that may be affected by the same issue need to be considered and added a "more strategic approach should be used."

But North Isles councillor Dr Stephen Clackson said: "While we hold conversations, the poo is piling up."

Built 5,000 years ago, the Neolithic Ring of Brodgar ceremonial site near Stenness is the third largest stone circle in the British Isles. It is a world heritage site.