The future of the public conveniences in Millport is on the verge of being secured for the coming year, with Cumbrae Community Development Company set to take over the running of the toilets.
Future plans for a 'new modern facility' on the island for 2018 are in the offing, the 'News' can reveal.
There was widespread disbelief on the island last year when North Ayrshire Council signalled their intent to close public toilets on the island. 
During the recent development company AGM, chairman Stephen Dobbin said: “We are close to finalising the asset transfer of all the public toilets on the island and we are committed to operating all these toilets for the coming season.
“It is our intention to use the coming year to establish data on the costs and usage of these facilities and plan for a new modern facility in 2018.”
A petition to save the Millport toilets from closure was set up by hotelier Margaret Kennedy last year, and amassed over 1300 signatures, attracting comment from around the British Isles. With Millport a busy tourist destination throughout the summer months, the closure of the toilets was seen as a controversial move.
However, North Ayrshire Council budget cuts have resulted in public toilets, including the ones in Fairlie, having to close. Their pay facility toilet was removed from the south bay car park last month.
 An arrangement has been made to keep the Gallowgate Street public toilets in Largs open, with finance provided from seafront car park funds.
The chronic situation regarding the possible closure of public toilets on the Isle of Cumbrae took a surprising twist over a good spell of weather in October, as a Millport woman opened her house to six visitors to use her toilet due to facilities being closed.
The good weather brought many people over to the Isle of Cumbrae - but the closure to the toilets in the Garrison, and an out of order toilet at Crocodile Rock, resulted in problems. Blocked drains in two of the toilets led to the problem of the closure, but the chronic situation highlighted the need for public toilets to stay open, campaigners said.