COMMUNITY groups in the Borders are being invited to register their interest in five public loos now up for sale.

In March 2023 Scottish Borders Council permanently closed a number of public toilets across the region.

Now, the first five toilets are to be sold off as part of a rationalisation of the public facilities.

The toilets on the initial list of facilities to be sold include: Galashiels, High Street Car Park; Galashiels, Bank Street; Newtown St Boswells, Main Street; Selkirk, Scott's Place; and Hawick, Howegate.

Community groups interested in the public toilets can take on management, leasing or ownership of them through a community asset transfer (CAT) with the council.

Councillor Simon Mountford, executive member for estate management and planning said: “As part of our rationalisation of the Council’s estate, we have identified these public toilet facilities as buildings which could be sold on to alleviate the pressure on our property portfolio.

“We recognise that these facilities are valuable resources for the local communities they serve and by offering them up via the community asset transfer method we are offering communities the opportunity to secure the buildings for community use.”

An example of a community run facility is the Lothian Park (The Glebe) toilet block in Jedburgh which has been managed by the Jedburgh Leisure Facilities Trust for the past 18 months.

For more information on asset transfers, including the criteria that must be met by community groups to be eligible, and the support available to guide you through the asset transfer process can be found on the SBC website: www.scotborders.gov.uk/strategies-plans-policies/asset-transfer 

Community groups wishing to make informal notes of interest regarding any of the five toilet facilities above should be directed to: communityengagement@scotborders.gov.uk.