A public toilet block in a Perthshire town is to be converted into a banking hub.
The convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Planning and Placemaking Committee used his casting vote to agree the proposal which was recommended for approval by council officers.
It comes after the council decided to save ‘spending a penny’ and permanently closed the public conveniences in April 2024.
Cash Access UK sought permission from Perth and Kinross Council to create a permanent space for a banking hub within the former public conveniences just off Auchterarder High Street.
Auchterarder and District Community Council strongly opposed the proposal arguing the town needed both – not one or other.
As the council committee met on Wednesday, December 11 to consider the planning application, Heather Edment addressed councillors on the community council’s behalf.
She argued agreeing the plans would rule out any possibility of a charitable or commercial enterprise taking over the running of the public toilets.
Ms Edment said: “We object to the change of use and alteration to public toilets at High Street, Auchterarder on the basis that this will result in the permanent loss of public amenities to our ever-growing and flourishing town.
“These toilets – currently not open – have been mothballed since April 1, 2024 due to Perth and Kinross Council budget cuts.
“However, the internal fittings of this building contain fully functional public toilets. Should a change of use be granted, and all the internal fittings and fixtures be removed to facilitate another use, this would render the commercial viability of any future community-led or charity-funded public toilets on this site both uneconomical and improbable. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”
She argued the town should not have to lose one facility to get another.
The community council’s spokesperson said: “Auchterarder deserves and should have both.”
Bailie Claire McLaren asked if the temporary home of the banking hub – within the town’s Aytoun Hall – could be used on a permanent basis.
Ms Edment said her understanding was the temporary location did not meet the criteria for it to become a permanent location.
She added: “There are other options which could and we feel should be explored. Unfortunately we – as a community council – were never privy to the exact criteria for the banking hub so are not really able to answer where else it could go but we’re fairly confident it could go somewhere other than our toilet block which we would like to not lose.”
Cllr Ian James asked council planners if anyone had come forward to operate the building as public toilets but was told that would be for “another committee” to consider as it would not require change of use planning permission.
PKC’S Building Standards and Development Management service manager Kristian Smith said: “I understand that has already happened and another committee of the council has decided that this is the preferred option or they do not see it should be retained and operated by the council as a public convenience. But that’s beyond the remit of this committee.”
Bailie Mike Williamson moved to approve the proposal. It was seconded by fellow SNP councillor Iain MacPherson.
Strathallan ward councillor Keith Allan tabled to refuse the application “on the basis the loss of the public toilets in Auchterarder would be detrimental to the local community” and residents “want both facilities”. It was seconded by fellow Conservative councillor Bob Brawn.
All five SNP councillors voted to approve the application. All five opposition councillors – from the Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups – voted to refuse the plans.
As the votes were tied five apiece, SNP councillor Ian Massie exercised his casting vote as convener to approve the application.
- Conservative councillor David Illingworth had left the meeting by this point to attend the Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board which was happening at the same time.