Double celebration for Inverness shopping centre in Loo of the Year Awards

THE Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness has won two categories in the Loo of the Year Awards.

The centre's Lachie Smith Room, which was upgraded last year, was awarded the Space to Change award for Scotland while cleaning supervisor Jan Bell was named the Scotland winner in the associated Washroom Cleaner of the Year awards.

It follows an unannounced visit from a Loo of the Year Awards inspector who assessed the washroom against 101 judging criteria including signage and décor, fixtures and fittings and overall standards of cleanliness and management.

Ms Bell said: “I am honoured to have won the individual Washroom Cleaner of the Year award for Scotland. However, there is a team of 14 dedicated cleaning staff all working diligently to achieve this national recognition so it is a team effort and a team award.”

Inverness Common Good Fund agreed a grant of £5000 to Shopmobility in 2018 to upgrade the Lachie Smith Room. It was then matched by the shopping centre which agreed to carry out the work.

Recognised by Changing Places, a national consortium campaigning to provide fully accessible toilet facilities, it is located in the main lift lobby of Falcon Gallery Car Park and is the only facility of its kind in the city.

The awards, which have been identifying the best washrooms in Britain since 1987, aim to encourage the highest possible standards.

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