Home   News   Article

Re-opening public toilets in Nairn would not have been value for money, community told


By Donald Wilson

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
The toilet block at Nairn harbour.
The toilet block at Nairn harbour.

Public toilets in Nairn have not been re-opened on grounds of costs, residents have been told.

Highland Council advised Nairn West and Suburban Community Council (NWSCC) that the cost of repairs to open the toilets in Harbour Street would have been £4222.

Estimated annual running costs are £26,500.

There have been strong calls locally for the reopening of the facility for tourists and locals using the harbour area and assurances were given earlier this year that the toilets would be reopened by August.

But the community council was told with costs for reopening for 11 weeks to the end of this month being approximately £12,000, the local authority felt it was "not good value".

The position will be reviewed early next year, with the Nairn Common Good Fund being used to finance maintenance over the winter.

Members of the community council maintained most local authorities in Scotland either pay rent for common good land or assets which are used by the public, including playing fields and parks, or local authorities maintain them in lieu of rent.

This, they said, was not happening in Nairn and Highland Council was also charging the Nairn Common Good Fund for administering and managing the play park and splashpad.

Community councillor Alastair Noble said NWSCC has repeatedly asked for these anomalies to be addressed and nothing has been done.

"These toilets are beside a major tourist attraction in Nairn which should have toilets," he said.

"It’s a public health issue.

"Highland Council are providing toilets for the North Coast 500, but here in Nairn we already have toilets which are simply needing upgraded and they can’t even do that.

"If and when they do, they are also saying it will come out of our common good fund. It’s now three years we have gone without toilets at the harbour and it’s totally down to Highland Council and it’s unacceptable."

Earlier this year, following complaints from neighbours that rats had been seen at the entrance to the toilets which were closed in 2018, the area was cleaned up by council staff.

Public toilets at Nairn Harbour set to reopen


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More