SNP have starved local communities of funding for public toilets

Scottish Liberal Democrat communities spokesperson Willie Rennie has today criticised cuts to local authority funding which have seen the number of public toilets fall by 25% since the SNP came to power and four local authorities no longer having any public toilet facilities.

Analysis of data uncovered through a Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request reveals that:

• Across the 18 councils which provided data for both 2007 and 2024, there has been a 25% decrease in the number of public toilets during this period.
• Across the 31 councils which provided data for both 2018 and 2024, there has been an 8% decrease in the number of public toilets during this period.
• Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk and South Lanarkshire now have zero public toilets.
• Highland Council has closed the largest number of toilets, with 37 having closed since the SNP came to power. Edinburgh has closed more than half of its public toilets.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Rennie said:

“Since the SNP came to power public toilets have been shut down left, right and centre.

“This is not just about public convenience. For some older or disabled Scots, a lack of accessible bathrooms can prevent them enjoying public spaces or getting out and about in their communities.

“That’s a depressing state of affairs for our country to be in but it the inevitable consequence of the decisions that successive SNP First Ministers have taken over the past 17 years.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see local authorities handed real financial firepower to rebuild battered local services like public toilets and other essential amenities like electric charging points and waste disposal points.

“Looking ahead there also needs to be a commitment from the next Scottish Government not to treat local authorities as second-class services.”