Petition aims to persuade OIC to reopen public toilet

November 8, 2016 at 2:36 pm

Kirkwall BID chairwoman Karen Scholes hands the petition to OIC vice-convener, Councillor Jim Foubister, as OIC elected members and officials watch on alongside town centre business owners. (www.theorcadianphotos.co.uk)

A petition with over 2,800 signatures, in support of reopening the St Magnus Lane public toilets in Kirkwall, was presented to Orkney Islands Council earlier today.

The toilets were closed in 2010 in a moneysaving move, and the council has previously said there are no funds available to get the public convenience up-and-running again.

However, with an increase in tourism in the town due to a swell in visiting cruise liners, and various initiatives to encourage more local people to support town centre businesses, there has been increasing calls for the facility to be reopened.

The issue has been before councillors on numerous occasions, the most recent in September, when a motion to reopen the toilets was defeated by one vote.

Councillors will again consider reopening the toilets at a meeting of the development and infrastructure committee on Tuesday, November 15.