Patience over a lack of toilet provision at a popular Angus beauty spot has turned to anger as visitors endure yet another summer season with limited facilities.
For the third year running visitors of all ages have had to find alternative toilets after the doors closed at the Lochside Leisure Centre in February 2017, leaving the area with no permanent public convenience.
A toilet at the Ranger Centre, which is open Monday to Friday, has ‘limited capacity’ and is often closed.
Despite elected members agreeing to provide new toilets paid for by the Forfar Common Good Fund, the long drawn out saga over the demolition of the centre and the ensuing court action involving the local authority and Forfar business-men Mark Guild and Donald Stewart, pulled the plug on their installation.
Elected members are now demanding action, with Forfar and District SNP councillor Lynne Devine describing the delay as “a piece of nonsense.”
She said: “I’m so angry we don’t have toilets yet.
“I agreed to fund toilets from the Common Good Fund beside the Rangers Centre over two years ago.
“It was held up while eco toilets were considered.
“That wasn’t possible so the four Forfar councillors then agreed to go ahead.
“Despite asking many times for updates, we are no further forward.
“I accept there is a difficulty with the leisure centre situation, but I think we should have gone ahead long before now.”
Councillor Braden Davy, Conservative member for Forfar and District, slammed the delay and suggested the toilets in the Lochside Leisure Centre should have been kept open.
He said: “The Forfar loch is a fantastic natural asset, which would only be enhanced by adding in toilets.
“This is something we must look to deliver and achieve.
“Unfortunately, the proposals have been held up following the ongoing legal action.
“I firmly believe the use of toilets can be provided, and this would be easier and simpler if we use the existing buildings and facilities (at the Lochside Leisure Centre) which could have modern, publicly accessible toilets.”
An Angus Council spokesperson said: “There are currently no public toilets at Lochside Country Park following the closure of the leisure centre, however there are toilets in the caravan park for use of those staying on the site.”
She added funding has been approved for temporary toilet provision in the vicinity of the former leisure centre and this is currently subject to a tender process.
Last May members of the council’s policy and resources committee gave the go-ahead for £40,000 to be spent from the Forfar common good fund for toilets.
At the same meeting councillors paved the way for the leisure centre’s £500,000 demolition.
That decision was deemed “unlawful” by Mr Guild and Mr Stewart who took their case against the council to the Court of Session in Edinburgh last week.
The outcome of the hearing will be announced in due course.
