15 public toilets in Borders about to reopen after being shut in March

More than 40 toilets were locked up by Scottish Borders Council on March 30 as part of efforts to contain the ongoing pandemic.

A decision to reopen some of them has now been taken, however, following guidance issued by the Scottish Government last month.

Those reopenings are to take place with measures attached to ensure public safety, including signage to promote good hygiene, limits on use, increased cleaning of facilities, reduced opening hours, from 9am to 5pm, and an access charge.

The plan is to reopen one toilet each in Peebles, Melrose, Selkirk, Lauder, Galashiels at the transport interchange, Hawick at the Common Haugh, Newcastleton, Jedburgh, Kelso, Coldstream, Duns, Eyemouth, Coldingham, St Abbs and St Mary’s Loch.

That move has been welcomed by Hawick and Hermitage councillor Watson McAteer as he has been calling for toilet reopenings in Hawick and Newcastleton.

He said: “The decision to open a number of conveniences in our towns and key visitor locations will, I am sure, be welcomed by tourists and local residents.

“I know that opening the toilets in Hawick’s Common Haugh and Newcastleton will make a huge difference, especially for those visitors that bring a welcome economic boost to our area.”

A council spokesperson said: “The 15 toilets are expected to open in the coming days, but there is not an exact date due to cleaning measures being finalised.”