Thurso toilets closed once again due to 'ongoing vandalism'

The vandalism blighted public toilets at Riverside Road in Thurso have been closed once again due to a spate of "ongoing vandalism".

The latest incident occurred yesterday morning and the council responded today by declaring the toilets closed with "immediate effect".

A Highland Council spokesperson said this morning: "Unfortunately due to ongoing vandalism, the Highland Council has had to close the Thurso public toilets with immediate effect.

"The toilet roll holders have been broken, mess thrown everywhere and fire raising (again). The council is extremely disappointed with the way in which the facility continues to be treated.

"As has occurred at other sites where ongoing vandalism is an ongoing issue, the council has had to instruct an immediate closure. These facilities will not be reopened for at least the next month as the council cannot carry on repairing them until the daily threat of vandalism is reduced."

The council spokesperson said that the latest incident has been reported to the police.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Officers were called to a report of vandalism at a property on Riverside Road, Thurso around 6.00am on Thursday, 27 October, 2022.

"Enquiries are ongoing.”

The facilities had been targeted by vandals numerous times in the past and were closed on November 9 last year after "significant fire damage" occurred. The toilets were repaired and reopened for the start of the tourist season on April 1.

Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Ron Gunn previously suggested to Highland Council and Police Scotland that more surveillance with "CCTV in the area should be considered" as functioning toilets are a "basic requirement for residents and visitors". Cllr Gunn is hopeful that existing CCTV may have picked up images of the culprits to help identify them for the police to take action.

Speaking this afternoon, he told the Caithness Courier: "I'm very disappointed to hear that the toilets are closed once again due to mindless vandalism. Not only does it affect the locals but there are still tourists on the go and they need these facilities."

Fellow councillor for the Thurso ward, Karl Rosie, said: "It is extremely disappointing that these toilets will now be closed to the general public because of a repeat of the mindless vandalism we have experienced over a sustained period of time at this town centre location.

"It is incredibly frustrating for our amenities team who are having to address the issues and precious budget spend for unnecessary repairs. The facility is well lit both internally and externally and being protected by CCTV, you would imagine prevents incidents such as these. I understand that investigations continue to identify the perpetrators and hope that we can see an end to this totally unacceptable behaviour."

Similar activities led to the closure of public toilets at Whitechapel Road in Wick in 2020. The facilities there are earmarked for a significant redevelopment, however, with CCTV surveillance that will hopefully deter future acts of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.

Anyone with information about vandalism to the public toilets, or any other concerns about antisocial behaviour, should call Police Scotland on 101.