Community effort sees Cullen loos reopen
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
CULLEN claimed its latest victory against council spending cuts today (Friday) when the public toilets in the Millennium Square reopened.
The much-used loos, which originally were a World War II bunker, were shut last year in a bid to slash £14 million from their budget, amid much anger from locals.
However, thanks to the efforts of the volunteer-run Friends of Cullen group the toilets are back open again. The move comes hot on the heels of the Friends reopening the toilets near Cullen Golf Club which had also been closed as part of the savings programme.
Thanks to donations from the local community and businesses in the village, the team have been able to renovate the toilet block, which also houses a disabled loo. One feature in the disabled facility are new water saving taps - also donated which switch on when hands are thrust underneath them and shut off when they are withdrawn. As they do not use levels to open and close them, they are easier to use.
Delighted to announce the reopening of the loos was Friends of Cullen chairwoman Julie-Ann Drake.
"Our aim was to get the toilets open fir the Easter holidays so we're delighted to have reached that target," she said.
"The longest part of the process was getting the lease sorted out but things have moved quite quickly since then.
"We've done a deep cleaned, repainted it and replumbed it.
"Everyone has really pulled together, it's been a real community effort. I'm sure it'll be a really busy toilet; it was very well-used before it shut, you could stand in the square even for 15 or 20 minutes and there would be a stream of people using the toilets."
There is no charge to use the toilets but donations are encouraged, which can either be left in a secure box in the building or by texting the Pay2Pee number listed in the loos.
