Grantown shows initiative over return of public loos
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A community group’s bid to take over public toilets in Grantown has been successful.
The toilets were axed by Highland Council in 2018 but now the Grantown Initiative intends to return them into use along with new waste disposal facilities for motorhomes.
Their community asset transfer request for Burnfield public toilets and part of the car park for £1 was approved by members of the council’s Badenoch and Strathspey committee at their online meeting on Tuesday.
It will cost around £22,000 to modernise the toilets and to provide grey and blue waste disposal for motorhomes on adjacent land forming part of the deal.
Committee chairman, Councillor Bill Lobban, welcomed the move though did question if the agreement stipulated that, should the Grantown Initiative sell the premises in the future, whether they would remain as public conveniences.
A council official confirmed that the title does state clearly that this was the case, and this was confirmed by the local authority’s legal team but will be double checked. Councillor Lobban then gave his endorsement for the sale for £1.
Councillor Muriel Cockburn added her support, saying: “With that answer I am also happy but I would like to add my praise to the team who have pulled all this together and got the work done because these things are not easy.
Fellow member Pippa Hadley said: “It is just an entirely light and frothy comment to say that some of the best toilets around Scotland have been community endeavours.
“I am absolutely delighted Grantown Initiative has been able to secure this property and take their aspirations forward for toilet provision – I think it is a real mark of achievement and I look forward to trying them out one day.”
Councillor Lobban light-heartedly responded: “One thing is for sure that you would not have wanted to try them out as they were because I can tell you that they were not something to be proud of, and the changes that Grantown Initiative are going to make have got to be better than before.”
He added that he wished the group “all the luck in the world but maybe sometime in the near future we need to discuss the other set of toilets”.
The Grantown Initiative is delighted with the decision and group treasurer, Karen Derrick, said: “This very welcome news means that we can now go full ahead with our plans to refurbish and reopen this much needed amenity to the public as soon as possible.
“The community will be very happy about this result and we will be working alongside various groups to make sure it benefits everyone.”
The toilets closed in 2018 but Grantown Initiative has said since then there have been constant requests from community, businesses and visitors to reopen them.
They are well located for people visiting The Square as well as attending the events which the town puts on every year such as Hogmanay in the Square, Grantown Does Christmas and Thunder in the Glens.
Ms Derrick said the Grantown Initiative has been sourcing grants to fund a complete internal upgrade of the facilities.
Income will come from donations from users, local businesses, the council’s comfort scheme and motorhome services.
The work will involve a complete refurbishment of the whole toilet block including new sanitary ware, tiling and fittings and the provision of a water supply and blue and grey water waste disposal points for motorhomes.
Ms Derrick said: “We are keen for the block to be open for the new visitor season in the spring at the latest – and before then if at all possible.”
There is a right of pre-emption to Seafield Estates and the sale is conditional on this not being taken up.
