North Ayrshire Council are hailing Arran’s adoption of toilets under a community asset transfer arrangement as a shining example of community efforts as it seeks to introduce the same concept to other areas in the region.
The local authority hopes to replicate the success of Arran villages where community groups took over the running of some of the public toilet facilities after the council made the decision to shut them all in 2017.
The adoption of public conveniences has also taken place in Ardrossan, Cumbrae and Irvine, however, North Ayrshire Council still has five public conveniences still under council control.
For the remaining five public conveniences the council they will carry out a two-month period of community engagement from February 2024 to identify potential interest in a community asset transfer for the Braes in Saltcoats, and Broomfields, Aubrey Park, Mackerston Place, and Pencil Point, all in Largs.
If no community group expresses an interest, the facilities could close.
Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for communities and islands, said: “We have witnessed a fantastic success story at Ardrossan South Beach where Ardrossan Community Development Trust have taken ownership of the public conveniences and have exciting plans to transform it into a fantastic facility.
“Indeed on Cumbrae, Arran and in Irvine, local community groups have stepped forward to take responsibility for the public toilets and have done a fantastic job.
“By considering the use of these facilities, community organisations may be able to progress some of their own aspirations in relation to locality priorities.
“We would be delighted to hear from any community groups who have ideas about how through partnership working they can be improved, regenerated or re-purposed and we will provide the relevant support to assist them in developing their proposals.”
Following the two-month consultation period to determine levels of community interest, a report will be completed in the spring which will decide the fate of the Largs toilets.
The decision to close all nine of Arran’s public toilets caused a huge outcry in 2017 when it was announced that the toilets would be closing in order to save the council £35,000 a year.
At the time a petition was created, which garnered more than 2,000 signatures, and the closures were lambasted by Arran residents and visitors. Since then the majority of the facilities have been taken over by community groups and volunteers.
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