Aberdeenshire toilet wins UK accolade for best public loo

• Aberdeenshire Council picked up several awards including gongs for facilities in Huntly and Gardenstown Harbour

• Fraserburgh couple won award for their ‘Home Throne’ award for their ‘toilet in a whisky barrel’

• Angus and Highland Councils also won awards in categories for baby changing facilities and eco-friendly toilets

Aberdeenshire Council also received the Scotland award for its public toilets, and earned a place in the “Champions League” for standards of excellence, awarded to organisations with ten or more entries with five or more five-star awards, at the annual awards ceremony in Solihull.

The North east authority also picked up an award in the non-attended toilets category for its facilities at Castle Street in Huntly, and a further award in the beaches category for its toilets at the harbour in Gardenstown.

Councillor Peter Argyle, chairman of the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “I’m delighted that the high standard of Aberdeenshire’s toilet facilities has once again been recognised at these national awards. To have been voted best in the UK for our public toilets is a positive achievement for Aberdeenshire and a tribute to the hard work of the staff who maintain them.”

Councillor Alan Buchan, vice-chair of the committee, said: “The continued dedication of the staff who maintain Aberdeenshire’s facilities has ensured that last year’s success at the Loo of the Year awards has been topped with a UK trophy. This is great news for Aberdeenshire, and the residents and visitors who use these facilities.”

A council spokesman explained: “The Loo of the Year Awards aims to encourage the highest possible standards in all types of public toilets. Every contender received an unannounced visit from a Loo of the Year awards inspector and was assessed against a wide range of criteria – ranging from signage and decor, fixtures and fittings to overall standards of cleanliness and management.”

An Aberdeenshire couple, Matthew and Carol Short, farmers from Fraserburgh, won the “Home Throne” award for their “unique toilet in a whisky barrel.”

Angus Council won the top national award for baby changing facilities for their toilets at Arbroath harbour and Highland Council won the national award for an eco friendly toilet for the toilets at Acharacle School.