Liberal Democrat councillor for Westhill and District, Iris Walker, is backing residents in Echt to have their say on the future of public toilets in the village. She is concerned over the implementation of the authority’s new public toilet strategy. The strategy replaced a previous document that was agreed back in 2008 and outlines how the council will manage the 81 public conveniences across Aberdeenshire, identifying opportunities to find alternative ways of delivering the service such as comfort partnerships. The Echt public toilet is earmarked by the council for closure.

Councillor Walker said “Councillors agreed that a review was necessary but that any closures should be fully discussed with the communities involved. It may be that communities have ideas on how to run them or local businesses may want to consider working in partnership with the council to provide alternative facilities. We emphasised that this must happen and it is very disappointing that the administration of Aberdeenshire Council has allowed this to go ahead without consulting the residents and staff affected.”

Residents feel that the public toilets in Echt are used much more than the council say they are. Football spectators, lorry drivers and bus parties use the facility on a regular basis.