Centre to control access to toilets

Peter Swindon • Published 20 Aug 2009 12:33 4 Comments

Access to Lochgelly Centre's toilets could be limited by a theatre trust, according to a Labour councillor who represents the town.

The SNP-led administration handed the running of the centre over to a charitable trust last year but the building still houses the town's only public toilet facility.

Councillor Mark Hood is concerned that access is now determined by centre managers after Fife Council failed to include special terms in the building's lease.

"Despite receiving assurances from a number of the officers that there was a formal arrangement with the trust to allow members the public to use the toilets it would appear that no such arrangement has been made and the public are at the mercy of the trust's event timetable as to when the toilets are available. This is no way to operate an important public service," he said.

"Public toilets are important to communities like Lochgelly. We need to ensure that this administration understands the value we place on public conveniences in our towns. It's clear that currently toilet facilities are not getting the priority they need."

Cllr Hood has demanded answers in a letter to Fife Council's Chief Executive Ronnie Hinds.

He added, "This situation clearly needs to be resolved."

Frank Chinn, the Chief Executive of Arts and Theatre Trust Fife said he is happy to allow the public to use the toilets "provided they are neither unruly nor interfering with the security or smooth running of any of our events and activities", but he was also keen to stress that "the primary function of the centre is to provide a creative learning space for a range of activities and events, not a public toilet."

The council will now look again at the lease

Mike McArdle, of the council's Asset and Facilities Management Service, said he is "quite confident" that the trust won't limit access.

He added, "We will review the lease with the trust and if any further clarification is needed we will do this in collaboration with them."

The Lochgelly Centre is open 9am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 4.30pm on a Saturday. It is closed all day on a Sunday.

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• 

  Vinny
  Unregistered User
  Aug 20, 11:50
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  if toilets are at the forefront of the agenda in the area then we cant have much else to worry about eh!!
  
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• 

  John O
  Unregistered User
  Aug 20, 13:00
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  At least coucillor Hood is working for the community the rest of the seem to do nothing but claim expenses.
  
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• 

  Gail
  Unregistered User
  Aug 20, 22:59
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  The people that work in the centre are snotty about people comming in to use the toilet especially the guys that work there.It our toilet and we can use it when we like.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Vinny
  Unregistered User
  Aug 21, 05:34
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  How can this be such a big thorn in your side when there are things like important supermarket plans going to the wall and drug busts every 5 minutes (it seems)! Perspective people . . .
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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