THE picturesque region renowned for Scots malt whisky distilling which attracts over 800,000 tourists every year has put off axing all its public toilets - as discussions take place to turn them into tourist information centres.
Some 20 public conveniences had faced the axe across Moray to save £31,000 - having already lost 12 in the past six years. With Scotland's 32 local authorities under pressure to save every penny there have been new concerns that councils, which are not legally required to provide toilets, are increasingly looking to offload the responsibility for them or close them to cut costs.
Last month, a Herald study found that as of September, one in three of Scotland’s remaining public toilets face being sold off or closed as councils battle to balance the books, sparking calls for them to become a human right.
Now Aberdeen is currently considering shutting all ten of its public conveniences to save £257,000 and Highland, another tourism-leaning area, has 29 of its 96 public toilets, the most in Scotland, but have cut 14 in the past five years, and have five more facing the possible axe with a further 19 under scrutiny with plans for either partnerships or divestment.
In Moray, councillors and tourist chiefs have come up with a novel way to save their public toilets from the axe.
An amendment supported by councillors yesterday suggests that the the toilets should remain open and under the control of the council for another year as discussions take place over whether to turn them into tourism hotspots, providing visitors with wi-fi and screens offering local information.
Speyside Glenlivet councillor Derek Ross said the stay of execution will allow for a plan to be put in place to work out how the toilets can be used, and who will own them in the future.
"I am pleased the councillors accepted the amendment, so toilets are safe for the time being.
One of the jewels in the Moray crown: Cullen
"I wanted to have them kept open go give communities time to put in place initiatives to keep the toilets open, to consult with them and look at a variety of funding sources.
"We are keeping them open for another year. I would prefer to keep them open, full stop, because it is one of the services that councils should provide. But the way things are going, councils are looking to save money wherever they can.
READ MORE: Crisis for Scotland's council-run toilets as one in three face being sold off or closed
"Moray Speyside Tourism and The Joint Community Councils of Moray can offer expertise and advice, and work collaboratively with communities to try and help them out and they would then be independent of the council."
The popularity of TV series Outlander has been credited with bringing overseas tourists to Scotland with whisky and the coastline proving to be Moray’s biggest draws.
Jobs supported by the tourism industry across the area are now nearing 3,000 as visitors spend almost 1.9million nights a year in the region enjoying the sights Laurie Piper, managing director of Moray Speyside Tourism, believes the toilets in the region could be kept through diversification.
Mr Ross said transforming the the toilets into tourism information areas would be a “great idea.”
"They could be use to help point visitors in the direction of tourist attractions in the area," said Mr Ross. "Tourism is valuable to the area and toilets play an important part in the infrastructure that underpins that industry. "I say the ideas that Laurie is putting should be given a chance."
Mr Piper said: “I think we should look together at creative ways to create a solution and offer a sustainable platform for the operation of those facilities.
“I would be keen to work with the council and the JCC to create a long-term sustainable future for the toilets for the benefit of the tourism business although this is reliant on the tourism BID projected to be approved.
“It would take two or three years to put together. Money and time would be needed.”
Herald research showed that as of September there were 724 council-run public toilets around Scotland - 185 fewer than in 2013.
And 243 further free conveniences had their futures under question either because local authorities are looking to offload them through new ownership or they are up for closure.
Pressure group the British Toilet Association which fears those under review could also end up disappearing has called for public toilets to become a human right enshrined in law and want legislation that forces councils to provide enough facilities for the elderly, disabled people or tourists.
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