Highland Council’s Public Toilets Scoop Top National Award
The Highland Council has been presented with a top trophy at the 2008 Loo of the Year Awards, beating competition from throughout the UK to scoop the national award for Public Conveniences.
The Council operates 135 public toilets the majority of which are unattended with free admission, but several are fitted to a very high standard with an attendant present during opening hours and a small charge for admission. At a time when other local authorities are closing facilities, earlier in the year the Council was singled out by Westminster for praise for the high quality of the toilets it operates.
During the Loo of the Year ceremony held today in Birmingham the Council was also presented with 120 grading certificates. The number of five star facilities has increased from 31 last year to an all time high of 41. A further 44 toilets were awarded 4 stars.
Each successful entry was assessed using a strict judging criteria which included signage, décor and maintenance, cleanliness, fixtures and fittings, accessible facilities and overall management and customer care made during an unannounced visit by an authorised Loo Of The Year Awards Inspector.
Vice Chairman of TEC Services, Councillor Brian Murphy was in Birmingham along with representatives from TEC Services and the ECS Service who had submitted the joint entry. They were presented with the award and the certificates by celebrity Roy Walker, the host of Catchprase.
Councillor Murphy said: “Winning the top award for our public toilets is a great endorsement and a credit to all our staff who take pride in their jobs and work hard to provide clean, high quality and welcoming facilities. We recognise that a clean and well-maintained environment is one of the major attractions for the Highlands and that our toilets assist directly in the quality of life in our communities whether in work, school, play or for tourists travelling and spending time in the area. This year, as well as becoming national category winners, we have improved the overall rating of all our toilets and so everyone involved should feel extremely proud.”
The Council has set aside £300,000 each year from its capital programme for the refurbishment and replacement of toilet facilities. Work is currently underway this financial year for the replacement of Golspie public toilets following the successful £140K refurbishment of public facilities at Portree on the Isle of Skye completed in time for the tourist season.