'Hotel for druggies' jibe at Badenoch and Strathspey toilets
There are claims that three public toilets in Badenoch and Strathspey which will shortly be left unmanned will become "hotels for druggies and alcoholics".
Highland councillors have backed a move to remove attendants from 11 of their award-winning facilities in the region including in Aviemore, Grantown and Kingussie.
And it has emerged that unstaffed public toilets in the Highlands have already been targeted by vandals.
The cost-cutting move will save the local authority £96,000 per year but leave just one manned public convenience in the whole of the Highlands –in Inverness city centre.
Sixteen staff who work for the toilet sub-contractors Vacman, which currently maintains and clean the facilities, will be laid off by the company.
The decision to axe the workers was made at the latest transport, environmental and community services committee meeting in Inverness.
An employee, who did not want to be named, said: "With this, Highland Council are opening the doors to druggies and alcoholics.
"They are beautiful facilities in Aviemore, Grantown and Kingussie with not a hint of graffiti in any of them.
"It’s absolutely ridiculous."
Neil Montgomery, Vacman’s managing director, has also warned the decision could leave the facilities vulnerable to vandalism.
Public toilets in John O’Groats, Thurso, Wick, Tain, Alness, Kyle of Lochalsh and at North Kessock just off the A9 Inverness-Perth road will also all be affected.
Badenoch and Strathspey committee member, councillor Stuart Black (Lib Dem), said that "in an ideal world" the toilets would remain staffed but the savings had to be made.
A council spokesperson said: "Cleaners will be visiting all the facilities on a daily basis. Any signs of graffiti or the misuse of the premises will be reported and promptly acted on."
