Sunday 31 October toilet closures

Members of the public are advised that Orkney’s public toilets will be closed for one day this Sunday.

These facilities can sadly become a target of vandalism on Halloween and therefore it is normal practice that on 31 October the facilities are closed to the public.

Recently there have been a spate of incidents where the County facilities have been vandalised. Only last week, one of our toilet attendant’s was injured after slipping on liquid soap which had been emptied over a toilet floor. On another occasion an attendant has faced verbal abuse from a member of the public as they were dealing with a blocked toilet. Cases of vandalism have included fire damage.

Kenny MacPherson, Interim Head of Property, IT and Facilities commented: “These stories are really disappointing to hear about. Our dedicated and hard-working staff do a fantastic job of keeping our facilities and waiting rooms clean and safe.

“Orkney is often voted as one of the best places to live and work. We all play a part in keeping the place special – including the unsung heroes in our cleaning team who day in, day out, face up to all kinds of situations with dedication and resolve. The ongoing provision of these facilities is a credit to the county while many in other parts of the country are closed. Vandalism and anti-social behaviour detracts from these achievements.

“Be kind. Our staff keep the toilets clean and presentable for everyone to use. Staff should not be subjected to verbal or physical abuse when carrying out their duties. There will be times when facilities may temporarily be unavailable due to cleaning operations being carried out and this is to maintain social distancing and everyone’s safety.”

If anyone knows any information regarding these incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour they can report it to Police Scotland on the non-emergency number 111 or contact Crimestoppers.