Concern over closure of toilet stop on NC500

A village hall that offers a public toilet stop on the busy North Coast 500 (NC500) tourist route is to close, Highland Council has confirmed.

Achnasheen Hall in Wester Ross will be shut next from month due to the increasing cost of maintaining the building.

The nearest other public toilets going north are nine miles (14km) away in Kinlochewe and, if travelling south, about 16 miles (25km) near Garve, according Highland Council information.

NC500 development and engagement manager, David Richardson, said the closure would be a loss to the local community and tourists.

The NC500 involves a 516-mile (830km) journey around the north Highlands, starting and finishing in Inverness.

Highland Council is the UK's largest provider of public toilets, according to figures from 2018.

It operates its own conveniences and also runs the Highland Comfort Scheme, which involves awarding grants to communities and businesses to provide loos.

Mr Richardson said the closure of Achnasheen's would be disappointing.

He said: "I am very sad for the hall community who have obviously tried and failed to get Highland Council to look after the hall on their behalf.

"From a strategic point of view, if people go on holiday they want to spend money and the NC500 is all about attracting them to spend with us rather than elsewhere."

He added: "We must look after our visitors by providing vital facilities."

Highland Council said it had made a difficult decision to end the lease agreement for Achnasheen Hall.

It said it had provided the community facility for more than 35 years.

A spokesperson said: "Due to increasing repair and refurbishment costs and the ongoing challenges of funding such projects, we have determined that it is no longer feasible for the council to continue providing this service.

"As a result, the council is taking steps to place the former Achnasheen Hall on the market for sale.

"The public toilets located within the building will remain closed and the council is open to discussions on alternative comfort scheme providers in the area."