Moray public toilets in key tourism areas could be turned into wi-fi hotspots and tourism information sites to give them a more sustainable future.
There are currently 20 facilities around the region that have been earmarked for closure in the latest round of council budget cuts.
Axeing the sites would save the cash-strapped local authority £16,000 but the plan has proved unpopular.
It was criticised by Speyside Glenlivet councillor Derek Ross, among others, and he has now submitted an amendment to keep them open for at least another year.
With the planned closure date being April 1, he wants to give communities more time to rally themselves and keep them open and believes money can be found to do this.
“My main aim is to keep them open for the start of the tourism season, which is imperative,” he said.
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He said: “The council can save more money on the asset management plan in the improvements and modernisation programme and that can go towards keeping the toilets open for another year.
“That would give communities time to work together to save them and also for Moray Speyside Tourism to work in conjunction with the Joint Community Councils (JCC) to give the toilets a more sustainable future.”
One idea proposed to make them more sustainable is by turning the most popular public toilets into tourism hotspots, which would have people charged a small amount of money to use them.
The facilities would include contactless payments, wi-fi and a tourist screen where you can find out things to do in the region.
Laurie Piper, managing director of Moray Speyside Tourism, believes there is a sustainable future for public toilets in the region but stressed it would take time and effort to turn them around.
He said: “I think we should look together at creative ways to create a solution and offer a sustainable platform for the operation of those facilities.
“I would be keen to work with the council and the JCC to create a long-term sustainable future for the toilets for the benefit of the tourism business although this is reliant on the tourism BID projected to be approved.
“It would take two or three years to put together. Money and time would be needed.”
Mr Ross insisted that transforming some of the toilets into tourism hotspots would be a “great idea.”
He said: “The toilets in the tourism destinations like Tomintoul, Cullen and Craigellachie should be kept open or give communities given time to work keep them open.
“Tourism infrastructure is important and these toilets are vital to businesses in these communitities, and places such as Aberlour.”
Council leader Graham Leadbitter confirmed that discussions were ongoing about Mr Ross’s amendment.
