Public toilets – more re-opening soon

Orkney Islands Council is planning to re-open a further 14 public toilets over the days ahead – many of them in the North and South Isles.

This will bring the total number of toilets now open to the public to 35.

The Council is seeking to recruit additional mobile toilet attendants, so that more toilets can re-open over the weeks ahead. Find out more on the MyJobScotland website at https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/orkney-islands-council/jobs/mobile-toilet-attendant-193901

The toilets that will open again this week are at the North Pier Terminal in Stromness, the Shapinsay Slip and East Pier waiting rooms in Kirkwall, Wyre Pier, Moaness Pier, Longhope Pier, Lyness Pier, Rousay Pier, Graemsay Pier, Loth and Kettletoft Piers in Sanday, Stronsay Pier, Eday Pier and Burray Pier. These should be available to the public by Friday 21 August.

Hayley Green, the Council’s Head of IT and Facilities, said: “Considerable work is needed at each site because of hygiene and physical distancing requirements. This is why we haven’t been able to open all of Orkney’s toilets in one go.

“I’m pleased that 35 of our public toilets will be open again across the county by the end of the week, but we need to recruit more cleaning staff before we can open more.

“This is because of the increased amount of cleaning needed to open them safely. We have a recruitment process under way and if you would be interested in joining the team, we look forward to hearing from you.”

And interactive map showing public toilets that are currently open – and the facilities they offer – is available on the orkney.com website here: www.orkney.com/map/public-toilets

Hayley added: “I would like to thank local people and visitors for their patience and co-operation as we continue the process of re-opening Orkney’s public toilets.

Toilets currently open in Orkney:

• Ferry Road, Stromness – one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet, one accessible toilet (Radar key needed).
• Pier Head, Stromness – one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet, one accessible toilet.
• St Magnus Lane, Kirkwall – one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet, one accessible toilet (Radar key needed).
• Kirkwall Travel Centre – one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet, one accessible toilet, one accessible (Radar key) toilet.
• Finstown – one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet, one accessible toilet (Radar key needed).
• Stenness – one accessible toilet.
• Cromarty Square – one gents' toilet and one ladies'/accessible toilet.
• St Mary’s – Male, one gents' toilet and one ladies'/accessible toilet.
• Shore Street in Kirkwall - one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet.
• Scapa Beach - one ladies’ toilet, one gents’ toilet and one accessible toilet (Radar key needed).
• Dingieshowe in Deerness - one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet.
• Sands o’ Wright in South Ronaldsay - one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet and one accessible toilet.
• Pierowall in Westray - one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet.
• Rackwick in Hoy - one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet.
• Papa Westray - one accessible toilet.
• Egilsay Pier - one accessible toilet.
• Flotta Pier - one accessible toilet.
• Rapness waiting room in Westray - one gents' toilet and one ladies'/accessible toilet.
• Gill Pier, Westray - one ladies' toilet, one gents' toilet.
• Papa Westray Pier - one gents' toilet and one ladies'/accessible toilet.
• North Ronaldsay Pier - one gents' toilet and one ladies'/accessible toilet.