Council wins best Public Toilets in Scotland award
Last updated | 11/06/2008
Perth & Kinross Council has won the coveted Best Public Toilets in Scotland award at the National Loo of the Year Awards.
As part of judging earlier this year Perth and Kinross toilets were all placed highly in their categories, with Pitlochry receiving a 4-Star grading and facilities at Perth, Dunkeld, Crieff, Auchterarder and Blairgowrie receiving the highest award of 5-Star.
After further consideration by judges Perth and Kinross is now delighted to have been named the winner of the award for having the best public toilet facilities in Scotland.
Environment Convenor, Councillor Alan Grant, said: “This is a testament to the hard work and forward thinking of the staff involved in public toilet provision, from the toilet attendants and cleaning staff to those who identify and secure new partnerships for our Comfort Schemes. I am thrilled that this ongoing hard work has been recognised by winning this national award.
“Perthshire welcomes high numbers of tourists each year and providing them with access to modern, clean and efficient toilet facilities will help to ensure that they have a positive impression of the area.
“We now provide a mix of high-quality staffed facilities and innovative Comfort Schemes, ensuring that all residents and visitors have an excellent standard of public toilet provision that is fit for the 21st century. The days of vandalised, dirty and unwelcoming unmanned toilet facilities are over.”
A review of public toilets in Perth and Kinross over the last three years saw the closure of 18 (mostly unattended) toilets, after the process highlighted the poor quality of these amenities.
In their place, 28 Comfort Scheme partnerships throughout the area are now providing clean and comfortable facilities to the public, in addition to the attended toilets in place in Perth, Dunkeld, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff and Pitlochry.
The income from sale of the land where the old unattended toilet blocks stood contributed to the upgrade programme for public toilet provision throughout the area and has allowed the Council to offer modern and attractive public toilets for visitors and locals alike.
The Loo of the Year Awards and associated Attendant of the Year Awards for cleaning staff have been identifying the best facilities in the UK since 1987 and winners are recognised as standard setter for other providers.
Every entry receives an unannounced visit from an authorised Awards Inspector and is assessed against a wide range of judging criteria – including signage and decor, fixtures and fittings and overall standards of cleanliness and management.
