'We cannot let juvenile vandals bring the town to its knees' – Thurso councillor in push to re-open town centre toilets
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A Caithness councillor has criticised Highland Council over its "complacent" statement that it has no plans to re-open the Riverside Road toilets in Thurso which were closed following a spate of vandalism.
Thurso and Northwest Caithness representative Matthew Reiss said: "This is a complacent comment, given we understand the vandalism to be minor and almost run of the mill. We cannot let juvenile vandals bring the town to its knees and we must support the police and law abiding majority."
He said it is "ludicrous" that Thurso has no public toilets except the ones at the harbour.
His council colleague, Ron Gunn, who chairs the Caithness committee, has asked Highland Council to re-open the Riverside Road toilets but is still waiting for a reply.
He said: "We have to get the toilets re-opened as it is an important issue for local people and visitors to the town. We need to get it resolved as soon as possible.
"The town is pretty busy with tourists and they and local people need these facilities.
"I can't see why the toilets are not being opened. There have been incidences of vandalism but they appear to be minor, although it is crazy there is so little deterrent to prevent this from happening. We will be trying every avenue to get the toilets open again."
Councillor Gunn said the toilets at the harbour, which are operated by volunteers, are "a considerable distance away" and have "limited opening hours".
He pointed out that people who are registered disabled have a key to access toilets but are unable to do so at Riverside Road as they are padlocked. "It is disgraceful that a padlock has been put on the toilets there," he said.
Thurso community councillor Iain Gregory said: "While the work of the volunteers at the harbour is much appreciated, we need town centre facilities. Do we honestly expect older people, for example, to have to trudge all the way to the harbour in a downpour?"
He said a local business offered to unlock and open the toilets daily although it would not be able to clean them. "That shows the level of public interest and engagement. If these facilities were needed in 2012 when they were built with £198,000 of public money, what has changed?" added Mr Gregory.
He has called for a meeting involving the community council, Highland Council officials and councillors to come up with a plan to get the Riverside Road premises re-opened.
Highland Council was asked for a comment. The local authority has said previously that it has no plans to re-open the toilets.
