Councillor reveals money-saving hack at Selkirk loos
It comes as Scottish Borders Council votes to permanently close a third of its public toilets
Last updated 31st Mar 2023
Its links to William Wallace and stunning landscape make Selkirk a popular destination for visitors.
But it costs 30p to spend a penny in the Royal Burgh.
Or, at least, it should.
During a debate on plans to close a third of the region's public toilets, it emerged the charging system at the local authority-run loos in the Market Place can be overridden with this money-saving hack.
Councillor Caroline Cochrane, who represents Selkirkshire on Scottish Borders Council, raised the issue when discussing the different running costs associated with each convenience.
She said: "It was brought to my attention by a visitor who was using it.
"It states on the box for taking your money, it's 30p. However, if you put 20p in first it opens the door, so there's no need to put in the extra 10p."
Radio Borders put the hack to the test - and can confirm it works!
But, while it might come as a short-lived relief for some, councillors have voted to push ahead with plans to close a third of public toilets in the Borders.
They include the loos outside the council's headquarters in Newtown St Boswells - although the public will be allowed to use the toilets inside when the offices are open.
Leader Euan Jardine (Galashiels and District, Conservatives) explained they're not "flush" with money, and that other authorities have already been forced to make cut-backs.
The meeting heard the toilets on the A7 at Stow are due to reopen, following repairs - subject to a condition survey.
The loos at St Mary's Loch should also reopen under private ownership, but the Lothian Park toilets in Jedburgh will no longer be grant funded by the council.
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Despite a plea for more public consultation and information to justify the closures, councillors voted 23 to nine not to reopen 14 facilities closed at the start of the Covid pandemic.
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Councillor Fay Sinclair (Galashiels & District, SNP) said: “I don’t deny that there’s a need to take difficult decisions in the current financial climate, but I’m really disappointed that my request for community consultation and a detailed rationale for each closure was voted down.
“I welcome an exercise to map both council-operated and other public access toilets, but feel this information should have been provided in advance of councillors being asked to make the difficult decision to close a third of facilities previously provided by SBC.”
Councillor Aileen Orr (East Berwickshire, SNP) spoke of the need for a new facility at Burnmouth after the previous toilet was taken out of commission by a land slip, saying it had created a problem with human waste in the popular tourist spot.
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