For a holiday island it seems absurd. But make no mistake – in three months every public toilet on Arran will be shut for the last time.
North Ayrshire Council made that perfectly plain when it gave the facilities a one-year stay of execution in March when it shut all of its public toilets on the mainland.
It had been hoped that during the past few months community groups around the island may have been able to take over the facilities, so vital for visitors and locals alike. But, with time running out, and with the exception of Glen Sannox, this is looking increasingly unlikely.
So what’s the problem? The answer is cash. The council blamed budget cuts for the toilet closures.
Now a report put together for Arran Community Council shows that anyone taking over the toilets would have to find nearly £60,000. Where are community groups expected to find that sort of money? And it is not just the initial costs – there are the ongoing maintenance, electricity, provisions and staffing costs.