Helpers with community spirit are being sought to ensure the newly reopened Turriff High Street Toilets remain available to the public.
Known locally as the Turra Loos, they were threatened with closure in 2016 as Aberdeenshire Council announced plans to dispose of them.
There was outcry at that decision, but the toilets were saved thanks to the intervention of the Turriff and District Heritage Society.
Its members recognised the importance of the facilities to local people and to visitors to the town and ever since they have been giving them a new lease of life.
The cleaned and refurbished toilets reopened yesterday, but the jubilation was tempered by the lack of volunteers willing to help maintain them.
Before reopening, a partnership was agreed between the Society and the north-east cleaning company Let It Shine who offered to help clean the toilets for free.
Fiona Smith from Let It Shine said: “Thankfully the Heritage Society took on the building, which is great, but while people were quick to moan when Aberdeenshire Council announced they would close back in 2016 we have since asked for volunteers to help clean them only one turned up to help me.
“I will be cleaning them free of charge but we need volunteers to help keep them open.”
Judith Mackie, chairwoman of the Turriff and District Heritage Society, said that while it was great the toilets had been saved from council closure the labelled the lack of help “disappointing”.
She said: “Fiona cannot clean the toilets single-handedly. She needs helpers to come forward and work on a rota basis to clean, open and close the facility.
“So far just five members of the public have offered help, which is so disappointing.
“The ‘keyboard warriors’ have been very vocal on social media, and quick to condemn the council in the past, but if this fails it will be down to the people of Turriff.
“The more helpers the less each individual has to do. It will be a tiny bit of volunteering for the greater good.”
There will be a 20p charge on the toilets to ensure the costs of cleaning materials and toilet roll will be covered.