Charging facility to be introduced in Largs seafront toilets

New payment barriers were installed yesterday in the ladies' toilets after the men's toilets were completed in the autumn.

The project was supposed to be completed last summer but work had to be interrupted for the Viking Festival so they would be open to the public during the busiest time of the year.

A council spokesperson told the News: "The entry price will be 40p, which is in line with other similar facilities and payment will be by card only."Cllr Ian Murdoch (Image: Newsquest)

Councillor Ian Murdoch said: "The pay gates are being installed this week. 

"Nowadays, most folk have cards on them. There is probably still a want or need for coins to be used but they are not manned most of the time, and they are cleaned and it probably makes sense not to have cash on the premises.

"I campaigned in the election in 2017 in my first term to refurbish the toilets and have pay gates installed to help offset costs for any of the maintenance required.

"The only reason Largs still has public seafront toilets is that it is paid for through the seafront car park - as North Ayrshire Council's main general account no longer pay for public toilets - so it has to make its own money to be reinvested in maintenance.

"When I proposed for the refurb, I expected it to be in the region of £100,000 to £150,000 and pay it back through the car park fund, I had no idea that it would end up being £300,000."

"I still don't think it is value for money and have spoken to local building companies, who have told me they could have done it for much less.

"I'd repeatedly asked if it could have been divided into bitesize chunks but was told that this was not possible and it had to be one main contractor, and it was put out to tender."

However, since then, Councillor Murdoch has raised concerns about the delays to the project which has resulted in it taking far longer than expected to be completed.

He said: "The head of service is looking into why the gents side took so long and why it overran its schedule and then had an impact on the women's toilets too. 

"There is an assessment taking place and I am waiting to hear back on its findings."

North Ayrshire Council have been contacted for comment.