TEMPORARY public toilets are to be installed in Edinburgh at busy premier parks and other hot spot areas to meet demand as more people begin to mix outdoors.
The project will be funded through £450,000 from the city’s Covid fund. The City of Edinburgh Council said that it is currently compiling a list of exact locations for the public toilets, with an announcement expected soon.
The temporary measures come alongside further plans to introduce improved permanent public toilet offerings across the capital, following a review of existing facilities. The plans will see new facilities built in popular parks such as Inverleith and Leith Links. Parks that already have such facilities will see them upgraded to meet modern hygiene standards.
The plan also includes more modern facilities being built in local town centres as part of the development of new council hubs. A council review found providing purpose-built toilet blocks with small cafes in local town centres would provide ‘unnecessary’ additional competition to local businesses. As a result, councillors have approved new facilities being provided in the multi-service hubs being created as part of the ‘20 minute’ neighbourhood approach. The local authority said that it will be particularly beneficial to disabled and elderly residents looking to access council services.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, environment convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, said, “As we ease out of lockdown over the next few months outdoor recreation and meetings will become even more important for people, particularly during spells of warmer weather.
“We recognise that an increased number of public toilets is going to be needed to allow residents and visitors to stay longer to enjoy our beautiful parks, beaches and other open spaces. There have been reports of people toileting in and around these areas and I really hope that providing additional temporary facilities, if funding is approved, helps to put a stop to that.”
