Loo Crew takes over public toilets in Blairgowrie and Rattray

Date: Friday 12 July

News Release

July 2024

Loo Crew takes over public toilets in Blairgowrie and Rattray There were celebrations on Friday as representatives from the local community were presented with the keys to the public toilets in Blairgowrie and Rattray, saving them from closure.

The move comes after Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT) finalised an agreement with Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) to lease the Wellmeadow premises, enabling the community to take over the management and running of the public toilets.

PKC announced last year that the facilities were to close, and, following a call from the local community to secure the future of the toilets in the largest town in Perthshire, BRDT launched an appeal for services, financial donations and volunteers to ensure that the vital service is maintained.

The appeal was supported by Blairgowrie-based Castle Water Ltd and Graham Environmental Services, Stagecoach, other local businesses and organisations and a number of volunteers.  

BRDT has created a community management team to help coordinate the team of volunteers - now known as ‘The Loo Crew’ - that will run the facilities on a day-to-day basis, and the toilets will be professionally cleaned.

Linda Tait is chair of BRDT. She said: “When it was announced that the public toilets in Blairgowrie were earmarked for closure, the community came together to do what was necessary to stop the closure. Nearly 200 people completed a survey that was carried out to gauge the level of support for the community to take over the facilities and ensure they remained open, and the responses illustrated just how vital the public toilets are to our town and the desire to enhance the facilities.”

“There was also a fantastic response from people volunteering to help run the facilities, along with many willing to provide sponsorship to keep the toilets open, and we’re very grateful to Castle Water, Graham Environmental Services, Stagecoach, Tay Valet, Norman Laing & Co, Adventure into Books, and the community organisations that have come forward and offered their help.

“We were delighted to work with PKC to secure what is an important amenity in the town for residents and for visitors to Blairgowrie and Rattray and are very excited to make the most of this opportunity to protect a vital service in the town and ensure that it becomes a valuable community asset that is welcoming, safe and fit for the 21st century.”

Perth and Kinross Council Leader Councillor Grant Laing said: “As a council we have to think differently about how we provide services and how we can work with communities to deliver them.

“We know how important public conveniences are to people but with subsidies of between £4 and £10 a visit, we have had to reconsider how best to serve communities like Blairgowrie.

“We asked the community for their support and it is fantastic to see how the Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust has stepped up to take over the running of the public toilets at the Wellmeadow.”

Linda added: “We’re still keen to hear from other local businesses who feel they can offer their support through services or sponsorship to add to the sustainability of this venture. “If you feel you could contribute to that goal in any way whatsoever, whether by volunteering, providing a service, covering supplies, sponsoring the annual running costs, or making a one-off donation for building repairs or refurbishment, please just get in touch.”

BRDT is a community-led organisation that works towards combining community-led action with an enterprising approach to addressing and tackling local needs and issues and creating social, economic and environmental strength in the town. It is a constituted group with community membership and is supported by a wider network of Scottish organisations.

Donations can be made online on the Discover Blairgowrie website or via bank transfer - email admin@brdt.org.uk for details. Any businesses that can donate a service or supplies should also email admin@brdt.org.uk

ENDS For further information or media enquiries, please contact Clare McMicking on telephone 07514 343 042 or email media@brdt.org.uk

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