Ambitious plans to keep Cumbrae’s public toilets open have been given the go-ahead.
A ground-breaking agreement will see the transfer of the facilities to Cumbrae Community Development Company (CCDC) from North Ayrshire Council.
The Community Asset Transfer is expected to take place within the next week and will offer peace of mind to local residents and visitors ahead of the busy summer season.
The transfer will see ownership of five public toilets on the island transfer to CCDC – Cumbrae Slip, Fintry Bay, Clifton Street gents and Crocodile Rock, while the Quayhead facilities will transfer on a rolling lease.
Michael Bertram, Chief Executive Officer at CCDC, said: “We have been working closely over the past six months to structure the very best deal for both our community and North Ayrshire Council. Public conveniences are used by young and old, residents and visitors, taxi drivers, lorry drivers, delivery men and women, parents with young children, the disabled, shoppers and sightseers.”
CCDC Chairperson Stephen Dobbin said: “The challenge is how we build on the assets and sustain these facilities to support tourism for the island.”
Audrey Sutton, Head of Service (Connected Communities) at North Ayrshire Council, said: “We would like to thank everyone at Cumbrae Community Development Company for their fantastic efforts in helping to secure the future of public toilets on the island.
“Like all local authorities, North Ayrshire Council has for a number of years operated in an environment of reducing resources and increasing demand for
our services. Since 2010, the Council has had to find £73 million of savings, which has required a number of difficult decisions.
“When the decision was made in February 2016 to close our public toilets, we delayed the implementation until April 2017 to allow officers time to work with community groups to secure Community Asset Transfers where possible.
“We were delighted when Cumbrae Community Development Company came forward and we have offered support and advice to assist them in creating a community business model which would enable them to successfully assume operational responsibility for the public toilets.
“We are extremely pleased that this transfer will be complete before the busy summer season.”