A KINROSS-SHIRE businessman has described the predicament concerning a lack of toilets in the area as “crazy.”

Following concerns raised by Aberfeldy Community Council over no more unmanned facilities, it seems the problem is felt elsewhere.

Ian Robertson, of Crook of Devon, yesterday told The Courier that as a landscape gardener he often has to use public toilets but finds this almost impossible in Kinross-shire.

“I travel around a lot in my job and often have to answer the call of nature,” he explained. “But there are no public toilets in either Kinross or Milnathort, so you are faced with having to use toilets in pubs or hotels.

“And there are some pubs that you don’t particularly want to go into.”

He continued, “Some of the toilets in Kinross-shire were vandalised but the fact that there are none now is just crazy. Where are you supposed to go if you need the toilet—the back of a hedge?

“Perth and Kinross Council should provide some public toilets in Kinross and Milnathort. The present situation of having comfort schemes is not a good system.

“What are tourists supposed to do when they come to Kinross-shire? It does not give the area a good image and something should be done about it.”

Perth and Kinross Council said that there are three places where toilet facilities are available in Kinross and that the decision to take away unmanned toilets was begun some time ago.

A spokesman said, “The Comfort Schemes have been operating for two years and are popular with both the public and the scheme providers.

“This is the first complaint we have had of this nature in Kinross.

“The proposals are the final culmination of a review of public toilets that was started in 2002, and were drawn up by a member officer working group. The policy is aimed at improving dirty, vandalised and unsafe unmanned facilities, which are very expensive to maintain.

“The Comfort Scheme Partnerships have proved to be a great success, bringing in opportunity trade to the businesses as well as providing a valuable public service. It was felt that unattended toilets were difficult to keep clean and safe, whilst they attracted anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

“As a result they are not well-used by the general public.”

He continued, “These unattended facilities cost Perth and Kinross Council around £44,000 a year to maintain, which is the equivalent of around 34 Comfort Scheme Partnerships.”

The toilet facilities that are available to the public in Kinross are at Cafe 98, 98 High Street, from 9am-4.30pm, Monday to Sunday all year (unisex toilets), the Muirs Inn, 49 The Muirs, from midday to 11pm, Monday to Sunday all year (ladies and gents), and includes disabled toilets, and the Anglers Centre, Loch Leven, from 9am-8pm, Monday to Sunday, from April to October (ladies and gents). They also have disabled toilets.