Edinburgh council venues could open toilets to public

Toilets at Edinburgh's council-owned venues and sports centres could be opened to the public in a bid to tackle a lack of facilities in the capital.

A bid to open toilets at council arms-length body Edinburgh Leisure facilities, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and other local authority-owned companies to the public will be discussed by councillors next week.

Green councillor Dan Heap, who put forward the proposal, said there were areas of the city with no public toilets.

He also said research should be carried out on how to better advertise public toilets in the council, such as through an online map.

The council publishes a list of public toilets and their opening times, as well as a map showing the locations of changing places - fully accessible toilet facilities - in the city.

However, it said toilets in some council buildings, such as schools, should remain closed to the public for safeguarding reasons.

Mr Heap, who represents Edinburgh's Sighthill/Gorgie ward, said: "There are areas of the city where we don't have any public toilets.

"This came through my own experience with Gorgie. We don't have any public toilets, so you have to go to Saughton Park or Princes Street.

"But in the area, we do have Gorgie Farm, we have an Edinburgh Leisure pool, where people could use those – but Edinburgh Leisure's policy is that you can't use their toilets if you're not a member.

"We're trying to make sure that any council building that's appropriate with public toilets has a default right of access."

Currently, toilets at Edinburgh libraries are open to the public, but those at other council properties are usually restricted.

The motion going to the council said that despite efforts by the council in recent times, the under-provision of public toilets in some areas of the city was an issue.

The situation has recently come to a head in Portobello, where councillors refused to approve funding for temporary or new permanent toilets ahead of the summer.

The lack of toilet facilities has "disgusted" locals and meant local businesses have faced hundreds of drunken revellers looking to relieve themselves on summer nights.

Only two sets of public toilets exist near the beach, one on Pipe Lane and one on Bath Street - about a quarter mile from the foreshore.

An Edinburgh Leisure spokeswoman said: "Edinburgh Leisure has not been approached to date with regards this motion. Currently we operate why wait access at all our venues.

"We work with council officers regarding access and it is critical we manage this in line with ensuring our high standards of customer experience and ensure safeguarding of our customers."

The motion is due to be considered at the next meeting of Edinburgh City Council's policy and sustainability committee on 11 March.

Reporting by local democracy journalist Joe Sullivan.