Published: Thursday, 10th December, 2009 10:37am

Councillors call for town's toilets to be reopened

by Jim Stark

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Cowdenbeath Area Committee is to ask Fife Council to rescind the decision to close the town's public toilets so that discussions can take place which could see the Pit Road facility re-opened.

The committee voted to back a motion calling for the decision to be rescinded at last Wednesday's meeting so that dialogue could be undertaken with a local businessman who has expressed an interest in re-opening the toilets.

Committee chairman Councillor Willie Clarke moved that the committee note the interest expressed by a local businessman with regard to operating the public conveniences in Pit Road and agree to submit a motion in accordance with Standing Order 31 to Fife Council calling for the decision taken in February 2008 to close the toilets to be rescinded to enable the council to fully consider the alternative proposal for their operation.

This was seconded by Councillor John Simpson.

An ammendment was tabled by Councillor Alistair Bain seconded by Councillor Ian Chisholm which stated, "The Cowdenbeath Area Committee recognises that the Pit Road premises will be the subject of a property auction in February 2010 as they are now surplus to council requirements and recognises that excellent alternative public toilet facilities are available at Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre, through the comfort scheme and those additional facilities that will be available in other public buildings when refurbishment of these buildings are completed".

In support of the motion Councillor Clarke said, "Seldom has a decision to close a public facility brought a more angry reaction than the one taken to close the Pit Road toilets.

"Not only the people of Cowdenbeath were angry but also those who regularly pass through the town and who use the market at Central Park.

"Now we have the chance to discuss with the interested businessman how we can proceed to preserve the facilities offered in Pit Road and perhaps have the toilets re-opened."

Councillor Simpson said, "There is no doubt that the people of the town have not been happy at the decision to close the toilets.

"The leisure centre is not a suitable alternative and I do not think the proposed comfort scheme will ever happen.

"This could provide the opportunity for us to get the Pit Road toilets back into full use." Councillor Alex Maxwell added, "There is no doubt that this has been a major issue in the town.

"The community council petition against the closure had substantial support and showed that a town of Cowdenbeath's size should not be left without public toilets.

"The fact is the leisure centre is not an appropriate alternative neither is the town house when refurbished."

Councillor Alex Rowley said that the people of Cowdenbeath were left disillusioned when the toilets were closed with little public consultation.

He added, "The use of the leisure centre as an alternative is wrong as this is a facility which is in use for a range of activities which make it totally unsuitable. If we back the motion it could give us the chance to get the toilets back into use."

In support of the ammendment Councillor Bain said, "I feel that the Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre provides far better facilities over a longer day.

"The problem with the motion is that two other businessmen have come forward in the past but then dropped out. This third person may also. We should move forward on this issue."

Councillor Chisholm added, "The toilets were just too expensive to run and now we have brighter alternatives. There are better things the money saved can be spent on."

The motion was carried on a 4-3 split and the matter will go to Fife Council later this month.