A Moray community hoping to take control of their closure-hit toilets have admitted the running costs may be “unsustainable”.
Cullen and Deskford Community Council (CDCC) are looking at ways to re-open two facilities in the village that were shut down in cost-cutting measures by the Moray Council.
The toilets in the village square and the beach were closed at the start of June, leaving just one open public convenience at the harbour for visitors and local walkers to use.
But following discussions with Moray Council about the running costs involved for a two-month lease, the group is now looking at other ways of trying to reopen them.
Stewart Black, chairman of the CDDC, said that the money involved with running the toilets for just two months made the idea “almost impossible.”
“We were offered the toilets on a two-month lease as the council thought that it would be quickest and easiest way to get them up and running again but unfortunately we had to turn them down.
“The costs of running the toilets, which amounted to £2,600 for just the two months, are not sustainable to use in the long-term.
“However, we are looking to take them on through the Three Kings Cullen Association, who has already leased the village community centre from the council.”
The £2,600 price tag for keeping the toilets open was based on actual water charges of £5,500 per year for the toilets on The Square and £2,300 for the electricity. The toilet at the beach costs £75 in electricity a month.
The Three Kings Cullen Association is a company set up to manage assets in the village’s community, and they will be looking at ways to take over the toilets and re-open them to the public.
Mr Black spoke of the importance of the toilets to the seaside resort.
He said: “They are extremely important to both visitors and businesses in the area, and we have had reports of people not stopping here because of the lack of working toilets.”
A Moray Council spokesman said that “talks were still ongoing” about finding a way to lease the toilets to the Cullen community.