Over £240K invested in public toilets and waste collection for visitors

Visitors to the Highlands are benefiting from over £240K investment by The Highland Council on public toilets and comfort schemes (£60K) and increased waste collection at key visitor sites (£180K).

Members of the Council’s Communities and Place Committee noted an update on the works to date. They also welcomed additional support received by the Council from NatureScot’s Better Places Funding of £11,000 for public conveniences.

Chair of the Communities and Place Committee Cllr Allan Henderson said: “The Highland Council is doing all that it can to welcome visitors to our region. Our Visitor Management Plan strives to support visitors to have a good experience, benefiting local economies, while leaving no trace on our magnificent environment.

“These additional investments have now increased the comfort scheme with 14 new providers and we now have 50 comfort schemes across the region for this season along with the new public convenience at Storr coming into operation with the Council now running 75 across the region. I’m grateful to staff for working with business and communities to enhance the service this season."

Public toilets at Storr, on Skye; Ullapool, Kingussie, Aviemore, Grantown, Dornie, Muir of Ord, Castletown and Foyers are all being invested in. Additional comfort schemes have been secured this season at Salen, Morar, Rum, Ardnamurchan, Dornoch (2), John O’ Groats, Drumnadrochit, Kinlochleven; Glendale, Portree and Kyleakin; Helmsdale, and Alness.

Cllr Henderson added: “Officers are continuing to seek more sources of external funding to improve and extend the public toilet and waste collections services. The Council is also carrying out property surveys of previously closed public toilets should future funding secured enable any to reopened.

“An enhanced waste collection service has seen the employment of 8 additional seasonal staff who are mobile and responsive to reported waste-related issues. I commend the many communities and individuals who have also carried out litter picking in their areas. Over 60 organised community litter picks have been supported by the Council’s waste team since April this year.”

Groups can request litter-picking sticks, bags and arrange for the waste to be collected by the Council after their organised events through their local Area Waste Management Officer.

31 Aug 2021