Some relief! Edinburgh public toilets to reopen in weeks

PEOPLE looking to spend a penny while out of their homes could soon be set for some relief.

Plans for the limited reopening of public toilets in Edinburgh could be unveiled by late June, as Edinburgh City Council seeks to curb the growing number of residents relieving themselves in public spaces.

A motion has been brought forward to the council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee requesting a plan for the limited reopening of public toilets be put to the committee in time for its June 25 meeting.

The motion, introduced by Conservative Councillor Callum Laidlaw, suggests that public toilet facilities in key pressure points, including popular parks and the seafront, should reopen for Phase Two of Scotland’s lockdown easing plan.

If the motion passes, the plan for reopening public toilet facilities will include assessments of how social distancing can be maintained; how cleaning methods, storage and waste material disposal can be enhanced; and how the provision of sanitising material within facilities can be ensured.

For now, however, public toilet facilities remain closed and the Scottish Government has advised that people keep this in mind when deciding where to travel beyond the home. Police can charge £50 on-the-spot fines to people relieving themselves in public.

Following multiple complaints of members of the public urinating in and around the Leith Links Gardens, Police Scotland have had to step up patrols of the area. Residents living around Portobello Beach have been making similar complaints.

Last week a Leith resident told the Evening News she was “at my wits end” after repeated incidents where men were urinating outside her home.

She called for the council to reopen public conveniences to end the disgusting antics of people who had been drinking.

She said: “I am at my wits’ end. I have lived here for four years and I have never seen anything like this before.

“There was a point where I could look out the window every 15 minutes or so and I would see someone out there peeing each time.”

The woman continued: “There are just pools of urine by the end of the night, it’s disgusting. It’s quite upsetting to see as I’ve lived on this street for years and I have never seen this happen, at least not so frequently and in broad daylight. There are also young children who live on this street, so it’s a bit concerning to think about strangers nipping down here to pee outside their homes.”

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “We’re keen to reopen public toilets as soon as we can as we fully appreciate the issues, however it is currently not safe to do so. All public toilets in Edinburgh are closed to protect staff and the public, as it is not possible to open and operate them safely, though we are keeping this under review.

“As per clear guidance from Health Protection Scotland and Scottish Government, people should only be travelling to places where they can get back home to the toilet easily. Urinating in public is an offence and disrespectful of residents nearby so please plan ahead and don’t do it.

“We will re-open public toilets as soon as it is safe to do so but before please bear with us.”