Toilets closed at Inverness secondary due to 'repeated incidents of vandalism'
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Toilets on three floors of Inverness Royal Academy have been vandalised and shut down because of what was called “repeated incidents of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.”
Councillor Duncan Macpherson was shown the state of the toilets during a recent visit and slammed the waste of “taxpayers’ hard earned and valuable money” that will be spent on repairs.
He added that it is a double blow because school pupils’ “parents and grandparents are about to receive” their annual Council Tax bills, amid concerns those bills will rise in the next local authority budget.
Cllr Macpherson said he would be contacting Police Scotland and several local community councils to “send out a strong message to parents and youths of the huge financial costs that their unlawful and irresponsible acts of vandalism have caused.”
Highland Council hopes that the toilets will be repaired and reopened this week but said in the meantime there were enough facilities in the meantime for pupils, including non-designated toilets.
Cllr. Macpherson said: “I was notified by constituents that toilets at the city’s largest population school have had to be closed off on the first, second and third floors and cordoned off because of repeated incidents of vandalism and antisocial behaviour by a small group of unruly pupils at the school.
“This is particularly disappointing to hear and to witness in person, while visiting the school. It’s not big and it’s not clever to vandalise the school your parents and carers contribute towards.
“This disappointing news of vandalism and damage to the toilets comes just as the school pupils’ parents and grandparents are about to receive their annual Highland Council Council Tax bills through their letterboxes in the coming weeks, and every elected councillor is pressing for greater council efficiencies and searching for ways we can save our taxpayers’ hard earned and valuable money.
“I will be calling on Police and local community councils at Inshes and Milton of Leys, Slackbuie along with Holm and Lochardil to send out a strong message to parents and youths of the huge financial costs that their unlawful and irresponsible acts of vandalism have caused.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “Some toilets at Inverness Royal Academy are currently closed, pending repairs due to vandalism. Toilets are available to all pupils including non-designated and accessible toilets. More toilets will hopefully be re-opened by the end of this week.”
