Readers say put CCTV into our public loos in Badenoch and Strathspey to safeguard them
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There has been support from some Strathy readers for CCTV to be installed at public toilets in the strath to prevent the further loss of the facilities.
The Strathy asked for thoughts to tackle the on-going vandalism in the latest Briefing.
There is no charge for the facilities at Carrbridge or Kingussie public conveniences where both have been damaged by yobs and subsequently closed by operators Highland Council.
Related articles:
Carrbridge public toilets closed by Highland Council after being repeatedly targeted by vandals
Kingussie's public loos closed for foreseeable future after latest vandalism
The Badenoch capital has been without public toilets since last December because of repeated attacks whilst Carrbridge’s loos were closed nearly a fortnight ago.
Stewart Hills, owner of Castle Hills Driving Tuition, was one reader who responded and said the pitstops were vital for his health,
He commented: “My job is a driving instructor and as such due to the nature of my job, I am on the road all day and in various locations around the strath.
“Due to a medical condition I use the public toilets regularly in between lessons. If they were to close all the public toilets I would have nowhere to go and would have to travel many miles just to get to a toilet.
“CCTV in my opinion would be a deterrent, and should be brought up for serious consideration.
“If that isn’t an option, could they possibly pay local hotels to allow public the use of the toilets like they did in Boat of Garten? I will be following this story very closely.”
Shirley Millar said: “Unfortunately think the time has come to have CCTV at all public toilets. I am sure they can be put out of reach of the idiots.”
Libby Lamb believes that a small charge to unlock the toilets could be a solution. She said: “I visited a toilet in a railway station in Norway recently and to enter you had to use your credit card and were charged a small fee. Adopting this would raise some revenue and perhaps help to dissuade the vandals.”
A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “Kingussie previously had a machine for charging, however, it was so badly vandalised it had to be disconnected.
“Neither site now has CCTV and due to current budgetary challenges there are no plans for investment in this area at the present time.
“However, some of the council’s area committees have chosen to fund CCTV through their localised budgets. CCTV cameras were previously installed in Kingussie and Thurso but operatives found it didn’t deter the vandals so the contract wasn’t renewed.”
