Two toilets reopening for tourist season

Public toilets at St Magnus Lane in Kirkwall and Mull Head Heritage Centre in Deerness have reopened this weekend.

Both the facilities, owned and run by Orkney Islands Council, are open 24 hours a day, every day.

The Mull Head toilets were closed throughout the pandemic as resources couldn’t meet the enhanced cleaning required.

St Magnus Lane toilets were closed in December last year due to extensive vandalism on two occasions – in one spree, all dispensers in the male and female toilets were damaged by being kicked or ripped from the walls and a special lock to the accessible toilet was also broken.

OIC’s Corporate Director of Neighbourhood Services and Infrastructure, Hayley Green said if past treatment of St Magnus Lane toilets is repeated, it could put a question mark over the future of the facility.

“St Magnus Lane toilets were vandalised on at least 15 occasions last year alone – at a cost of more than £1,500 to the public purse.

“It is incredibly disheartening for all involved – from our own staff who look after these toilets, to local businesses whose customers this also affects.

“I would stress the local policing team are well aware of the past problems at St Magnus Lane toilets – and we will not hesitate to pursue prosecution.

“Please treat these facilities with the care they deserve – and if you see anti-social behaviour in the area, pass that information onto the Police in a bid to prevent it escalating into damage which hits the public purse.”