Women who need to spend a penny at the public toilets in Peterhead are facing a 16-mile round trip to the nearest council-run amenity.
The facilities, just off the town’s Drummers Corner, have been closed for the last three weeks after being targeted by vandals.
A sign on the door of the ladies toilet explains that the public conveniences are currently out of order and the nearest one is eight miles away in Cruden Bay.
Local authority bosses responded they would endeavour to have the toilet opened again once it has been has been fixed and agreed it was “unfortunate” taxpayers’ money was being used to pay for the repair.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “Vandalism is not a victimless crime.
“It is unfortunate that council taxpayers’ money will have to be spent on repairing this public toilet.
“We will endeavour to reopen it as soon as the necessary repairs have been made.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. A list of alternative public toilets in Buchan is available on our website.”
Peterhead North and Rattray councillor Alan Buchan confirmed the issue had been raised by locals in recent days.
He said: “There have a been a number of people, especially the older women from the Clerkhill area, who can’t get back home quick enough because they need a toilet in the centre of town and it has really caused them a lot of inconvenience.
“In the time it would take to go to Cruden Bay, you could almost go home, but the problem is if you’re a tourist and you come to Peterhead, you probably wouldn’t know where Cruden Bay is, let alone find time to get to the toilet.
“There used to be toilets all over and they were gradually closed down, so nowadays, they (the Drummers Corner facilities) are the only ones left.
“Realistically, in a town of 18,000 people, we need at least two public toilets and I would suggest the bus exchange because that is an ideal place to put it in.
“They spent £1.4million building that and they didn’t even put in toilet facilities. The council really has to start investing in Peterhead.”
