Two Aberdeen city blocks could soon become urine-free zones, following the development of a special paint, devised to discourage people from urinating in public places.
The paint is to be tested at two blocks of flats in Aberdeen in the Promenade and Linksfield areas.
The ‘superhydrophobic’ paint is called EcoUCalibre Rainoff and is designed to repel any moisture which it comes in contact with – effectively bouncing any urine back on the culprit.
Aberdeen City councillor Ross Grant has welcomed the launch of the trial and hopes the paint will repel offenders.
He said: “The manufacturer’s trial [last Friday] went reasonably well and we are interested in how the paint will work on site.
“Further trials are to be held on a variety of surfaces, including high-rise buildings in regeneration areas.
“And we are looking forward to seeing if the paint works as a deterrent in these places.”
Kevin Stewart wrote, in his motion to Scottish parliament following the manufacturers trial: “The parliament welcomes the news that Aberdeen City Council will pilot urine-repelling paint in two multi-storey buildings in the city and commends this initiative.”
“Hopefully, this will stop people from urinating in lifts and stairways in Promenade and Linksfields Courts, where residents have been experiencing this antisocial behaviour.”
The move follows successful trials being carried out across the UK, as well as the paint being used in the red light district in Hamburg and in nightlife zones in San Francisco.