Public loos to close for Hallowe’en

No vandalising “vampires” or pesky “poltergeists” will be able to haunt Orkney’s public loos this Hallowe’en as Orkney Islands Council takes action to prevent damage.

Members of the public are being advised that the county’s public toilets will be closed for one day this Sunday, October 31, in a bid to combat Hallowe’en vandalism.

According to OIC, these facilities can sadly become a target on Halloween, on top of the issues frequently suffered by those charged with keeping the loos in clean working order.

Orkney’s public loos have been subject to a spate of incidents, this past year, which have seen sinks and toilets damaged or left in a mess.

The council has said that only last week, one of its toilet attendant’s was injured after slipping after liquid soap had been emptied over a toilet floor. On another occasion an attendant has faced verbal abuse from a member of the public as they were dealing with a blocked toilet. Some cases of vandalism have also included fire damage.

“These stories are really disappointing to hear about,” said Kenny MacPherson, OIC’s interim head of property, IT and facilities.

“Our dedicated and hard-working staff do a fantastic job of keeping our facilities and waiting rooms clean and safe.”

“Orkney is often voted as one of the best places to live and work. We all play a part in keeping the place special – including the unsung heroes in our cleaning team who day in, day out, face up to all kinds of situations with dedication and resolve. The ongoing provision of these facilities is a credit to the county while many in other parts of the country are closed. Vandalism and anti-social behaviour detracts from these achievements.

“Be kind. Our staff keep the toilets clean and presentable for everyone to use. Staff should not be subjected to verbal or physical abuse when carrying out their duties. There will be times when facilities may temporarily be unavailable due to cleaning operations being carried out and this is to maintain social distancing and everyone’s safety.”

If anyone knows any information regarding these incidents of vandalism and antisocial behaviour they can report it to Police Scotland on the non-emergency number 101 or by contacting Crimestoppers.