Public toilets could become home to ice cream parlours and cafes

The unusual proposals – along with the possibility of charging to use toilets – have been highlighted in a notice placed online by cash-strapped East Lothian Council.

Charging was suggested as a potential option to “improve and maintain facilities”.

Nine toilets, from Musselburgh to Dunbar, have been earmarked “for commercial development”.

The toilets highlighted in the public notice are: Bayswell Road, Dunbar; Goose Green, Gullane; Neilson Park Road, Haddington; Shorthope Street and Fisherrow Harbour, Musselburgh; Quality Street, North Berwick; Links Road, Port Seton; Ayres Wynd, Prestonpans; and Lindores Drive/Winton Place, Tranent.

The notice reads: “East Lothian Council is currently exploring different options for improving and continuing the public toilets service.

“This could include introducing charging to improve and maintain facilities and or alternative and innovative approaches to providing public toilet services as part of a commercial enterprise solution which could include for e.g. cafe or ice cream shop, virtual fitness studio, hot desk or flexible office provision etc whilst maintaining public toilet services.

“The proposal from East Lothian Council is that interested businesses will get the opportunity to propose: refurbish/alter any or all of the existing nine public toilets premises and develop alternative trading initiatives that will increase the choice of amenities available to the public, and provide huge support for economic development including creating more jobs.”

The future of toilets across East Lothian, including Neilson Park Road in Haddington, is being considered

East Lothian Council currently maintains 30 toilets.

The potential of charging people to spend a penny was mooted in 2019.

At that point, Councillor Norman Hampshire said: “The council is looking at every way they can to keep every public convenience open that we have got. This could involve charging at the main town centre conveniences.

“There are systems where there is just a donation box and if people think there has been a good service they can put a donation in. Other places have ‘turn barriers’ where you pay to go in.”

Speaking of the latest proposals, Pippa Swan, chairwoman of Dunbar Community Council, stressed that there needed to be a public consultation before any decision was made.

She said: “I think we know absolutely from our constituents and visitors that access to public toilets is absolutely key to people to enjoy a place, whether here because they live here and are out shopping or here for the day.

“Equally, we know that manning the public toilets and keeping them up to scratch is an expensive and difficult job for the council.

“I think, on balance, we have to welcome innovative thinking about how the toilets could be kept open and continue to provide a service to the community. We all look forward to being part of the conversation.”

'Concerns'

Kenny Miller, chairperson of North Berwick Community Council, had “some concerns”.

He said: “North Berwick has seen a reduction in the number of public toilets over the years, resulting in the only remaining provision in the town being the Quality Street toilets. If any business has the option to alter the building, this could potentially result in further reduction.

“I do not support the introduction of charges, and would point out the removing of charges in the toilets at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station.”

DJ Johnston-Smith, chair of Prestonpans Community Council, said: “Our members are justly concerned that the proposed privatisation of public toilets in the county might prove to be yet another example of the incremental erosion of universal civic amenities we have sadly witnessed over recent years.

“In Prestonpans, after more than a decade of little or no serious investment, we are spending considerable sums of Scottish Government money to regenerate our Civic Square and repair parts of Preston Tower.

“The nearby public loo is a vital free facility for residents and visitors alike who are caught short when visiting either site, or are simply out and about in our town, and we would not wish to see that basic service interfered with, withdrawn or charged for.”

A spokesperson for the neighbouring Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council said: “We will be actively engaging with our locally elected members to establish what plans East Lothian Council have for these vital public facilities.”

The issue was also discussed by Haddington and District Community Council on Tuesday.

Members were keen to see more detailed proposals before forming a view.

'Public health needs'

Kenny MacAskill, MP for East Lothian, was hesitant about the possibility of changing the use of public toilets.

He said: “Whilst I appreciate the financial challenges facing the council and some out-of-the-box thinking is necessary, I’d be very wary to remove public toilet provision.

“It has been part of the fabric of communities since Victorian days.

“Their loss cannot be compensated for by other private services.

“There are public health needs as well as dignity and decorum.”

East Lothian MSP Paul McLennan said: “I know from my time as a councillor that councils have to be innovative in ways to raise funds.

“I support the council looking at such opportunities. Each application will need to be judged on its own merits.”

South Scotland MSP Craig Hoy was concerned about the prospect of introducing charging.

He said: “Free public toilet provision is vital for residents and visitors alike, helping to draw in visitors to many of our high streets and increase footfall into local businesses, as well as improving accessibility for those with additional needs.

“Introducing a system of privatised or chargeable services could be problematic, discriminatory and would further set back our hard-pressed town centres.”

'No current plans'

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said there were “no current plans” to change the operating model for East Lothian’s public toilets, adding: “With service provision generally, we are always keen to explore opportunities for innovation in order to maintain good-quality services in a challenging financial environment.

“Officers are undertaking an information-gathering exercise (PIN) on opportunities for improving and continuing the public toilets service.”

Mr Hampshire, leader of East Lothian Council, stressed that the idea was still in the very early stages and no decision had been reached on any proposals.

He said: “The council is in an extreme, difficult financial position and we have instructed officers to go and look at everything we do as a council, every building we operate, to see how we can reduce cost of operating.”

He added: “We cannot sit and do nothing – it would be wrong. We have got to keep on looking at what’s possible.

“If they come back with an option that is possible, we will consider it. If we don’t do that, they will close – that’s just the reality of where we are now.”