Moray public toilets to reopen amid health hazard fears
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MORAY Council yesterday approved the reopening of several public toilets and increased emptying of litter bins.
In March, the council about-turned on an earlier decision made in February to permanently close 14 public toilets from October 1 – excluding five harbour blocks – which would have saved £63,000 over 2020-22.
The council agreed then to instead work with communities and organisations such as Visit Moray Speyside (formerly Moray Speyside Tourism) on alternative delivery models for toilet provision – a process which has since been hindered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Council leader Graham Leadbitter yesterday proposed that toilet provision should be maintained until the end of 2021 during a meeting of the council's emergency cabinet.
Eight Moray toilets were reopened on July 13 in line with the Scottish Government’s announcement to open up tourism. And yesterday councillors agreed to reopen the remaining six toilets, funding these throughout 2021.
Independent councillor Derek Ross (Speyside Glenlivet) said that since the reopening of tourism and as a consequence of a lack of toilets, Cragganmore campsite on the Speyside Way, despite being officially closed, had seen a problem develop of human waste in and around the campsite.
Cllr Ross brought forward a motion to open toilets as soon as possible in response to a flood of community complaints over tourists leaving behind human waste along the Speyside Way and the River Spey, posing a health hazard.
He said: "It's always been my view that closing facilities on a long-distance footpath that is used by thousands of tourists is folly and counter-productive to Moray Council promoting the tourist sector.
"I would also argue that we are spending more money cleaning up areas than we are saving by closing the facilities."
He said the area risked "reputational damage" if the council wasn't proactive in dealing with the issues.
Cllr Ross said it was important that all people in Moray – residents and visitors – also needed to be mindful of how they were disposing of waste.
SNP councillor Theresa Coull (Keith and Cullen) added: "We welcome tourists in Moray. It's unfortunate that the waste that's been generated, instead of taking it home, they've been leaving at the side of bins, which leads to seagulls scavenging and waste blowing all over the place.
"Cullen has been particularly busy and there volunteers clear up – but it's getting overwhelming for them. They can't cope with the amount of waste.
"We don't want to deter tourists from coming to the area so I think public bins need emptied more regularly. We need to keep the beaches and parks clean."
Cllr Leadbitter said the pressure on waste teams had increased hugely in recent months, with households producing more general waste and more people eating outdoors and using more disposable containers.
He put forward an interim budget increase to support the council's waste teams and ensure bins weren't left overflowing.
Councillors agreed an extra £15,000 to support teams to empty town-centre and coastal litter bins.
