Highland Council has announced the reopening of Fort William's Viewforth public toilets following an extended closure caused by repeated vandalism. The facility, located at Viewforth car park, had been shut for over six months due to extensive damage from the most recent attack.
Contractors began repair work on-site last week, with the council allocating £7,000 to repair the Viewforth toilets and install security cameras as part of the reopening plan. A Highland Council spokesperson stated:
Viewforth toilets in Fort William have unfortunately faced persistent issues with vandalism, with the most recent incident leaving significant damage to the facilities.
The prolonged closure has drawn criticism from Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire Liberal Democrat MP Angus MacDonald, who described the council's response as inadequate for a region dependent on tourism revenue. MacDonald highlighted that Fort William attracts more than one million tourist visits annually, with many visitors being older people who rely on accessible facilities.
Why are public toilets critical for tourism?
The Viewforth car park serves as a major stop-off point for tour buses visiting the area, making the availability of functioning facilities essential for visitor experience. MacDonald argued that the six-month closure was unacceptable, stating:
Those toilets have been out of use for over six months and the council have come up with every excuse why they have not been fixed and are open for purpose. If you were a hospitality business and your toilets failed for any reason you'd have them fixed within 24 hours. It is really not good enough and it is appalling for a tourist based economy. We really need the Highland Council to get a grip of this.
The closure reflects broader infrastructure challenges facing the Highlands. The latest closure had shut the toilets since November after repeated vandalism, with the council planning CCTV to deter further attacks. According to Highland Council policy, public toilets are intended to be open 24/7, but can be closed temporarily because of vandalism or other operational issues.
What happens next?
Highland Council expected the Viewforth toilets to reopen soon after the repair work then under way. The installation of security cameras forms part of a broader effort to prevent future vandalism and ensure the facility remains accessible to residents and visitors.
