Inverness Airport is on a new “high” after winning an award in the prestigious loo of the year competition.
And on the west coast, one of the most remote public toilets in the UK, at a lighthouse visitor attraction in Sutherland, won two.
Cleaning staff at the busy airport have swept up another set of awards in the UK-wide search to find the best Away from Home toilets.
For the second year running, the toilets in the Inverness terminal have been awarded platinum status in the 2013 Loo of the Year Awards. The terminal also won the National Category Award for best airport toilets in Scotland – the third time it has won the award since 2010.
The Loo of the Year Awards were launched in 1987 and are recognised as standard setters for public facing organisations that provide away from home toilet facilities for staff, customers and visitors.
Every entry received an unannounced visit from an authorised Loo of the Year Inspector and was assessed against 100 judging criteria – including signs and decoration, fixtures and fittings and overall standards of cleanliness. Every toilet receives a grading, ranging from bronze to platinum.
Platinum winners are then shortlisted for one of a number of National Awards covering England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Callum Smith, Inverness Airport duty manager, said: “Inverness Airport is the gateway to the Highlands so it’s important that passengers using our facilities have a good first impression. Our staff take great pride in the cleanliness of the terminal toilets and will be absolutely flushed with pride after winning this accolade.”
The toilets at Inverness Airport are cleaned by Pristine Clean Services, one of the largest privately owned multi-service providers in Scotland, with the terminal team responsible for ensuring continuous high standards. The Loo at The Light is the composting toilet that was built in the walker’s car park at Stoerhead Lighthouse, Assynt, this summer.
After the success of the toilet’s first few weeks during which it raised £805 to be donated to the community, it was decided to enter it in the Loo of the Year awards for 2013.
The Loo at the Light was given a gold grading which gave it instant entry into the National and UK wide competition for the two categories in which it was entered, Best Car Park Toilet and Best Eco Friendly Toilet.
The awards will now take pride of place in the toilet for all to see.
All profits from the £1 charge will continue to be donated to the community via the Assynt Community Association.