Anger over closed toilets on Wick gala night
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THE failure to open toilet facilities during Wick’s busiest night of the year has been described as a public inconvenience.
Visitors to the town’s gala were said to be angry the toilets located in Whitechapel Road were shut during the opening night last Saturday.
Hundreds of locals and tourists gathered in Market Square and Bridge Street to witness the town’s float parade.
During proceedings both the male and female toilets were locked. The disabled toilet was available for use but could only serve one person at a time and required a key to unlock the door.
Hotel and pub owners said they had to welcome non-paying customers in to use their facilities as a result. It was also reported a number of people were spotted in alleyways and bushes relieving themselves.
Wick Gala committee member Raymond Szyfelbain said a failure of communication was the reason behind the facilities being locked. He said the fact they were closed made Wick look very unhygienic.
“It was basically denying people of their human right to go the toilet,” he said. “I spoke to the organisers of the sideshows at Wick Gala who told me that the council have to make toilet facilities available during an event of this size.
“I spoke to local councillors regarding the situation and received a letter from Highland Council saying that they were looking into the matter. We all thought the toilets would be open on Saturday night.
“However, they were closed and we were told that we should have contacted external contractors Vacman Cleaning Ltd who are responsible for the facility.”
He added: “It was sad that they were shut and we received a few comments from people regarding it. As a committee member of the gala I can’t say too much about it, but it will be discussed at our next meeting.”
A spokeswoman for Vacman Cleaning Ltd confirmed it is responsible for the operation of the public toilets. She said the company was only made aware of the issue yesterday and had not received contact previously.
She did, however, confirm the toilets will be opened later tomorrow night to coincide with the fireworks display.
The John O’Groat Journal this week received a number of complaints about the toilets being closed.
Hotel and pub owners in the town centre were praised by the public for allowing parents with small children in to use their facilities.
The Norseman Hotel’s Andrew Mackay reported there were up to 15 people at one time queuing to use its facilities.
“We got bombarded with the number of people who requested to use our rest rooms,” he said.
“Everyone was under the impression that the toilets would be open like last year. We have contacted the council in the past to make sure the toilet facilities were open.
“To have them shut on one of the busiest nights of the year was in my view ludicrous. The amount of people who are drinking alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks would obviously require it.
“We were already extremely busy catering for our guests as our hotel was full last weekend. It did, however, create a nice atmosphere and made us feel that we contributed to everyone’s enjoyment of the gala.”
Caithness ward manager David Sutherland said the Highland Council is no longer responsible for the public toilets which are now run by Vacman Cleaning Ltd.
“The gala committee were given details to contact the external contractor,” he said. “It appears that this never happened and I investigated the situation to find out why that was the case.
“The gala committee will have to pay a charge for the contractor to open and close the facilities. The public toilets are available to be opened upon request, but the contractors can’t do anything if nobody asks them to.”
