Auchenblae Public Toilets

We asked

The Auchenblae Parks Committee submitted an Asset Transfer request to take ownership of the former Public Conveniences in the village of Auchenblae. The proposal was to renovate one half of the building into communal toilets with a disabled cubicle and baby changing area. The other half of the building to be used for storage facilities for a number of local groups in the area to store their equipment. The community were asked for their views on whether they supported or objected to the proposal.

You said

We received 10 representations in relation to the proposal with most views supporting the plan to offer toilet facilities again. A number of comments made reference to the importance of having public toilets and should be delivered by the Local Authority. However, the running of public toilets is not a statutory duty of Local Authorities and due to reduction in budgets it has been necessary to reduce some functions in order to direct funding to our core statutory activities. The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 encourages and empowers communities to take ownership of assets that Local Authorities can no longer afford to manage. All of the documents relating to the Asset Transfer request and public comments can be viewed on the Council’s website – Asset Transfer - Auchenblae Public Toilets - Aberdeenshire Council.

We will

The Asset Transfer request was considered at the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee on 12 June 2024 and unanimously agreed that this was a worthy proposal. The Council will now formally transfer the Public Convenience building to the Auchenblae Parks Committee.