Fury at Edinburgh pub toilet plan

A bid by a council to persuade pubs to allow their facilities to be used as public toilets has left Edinburgh licensees aghast.

The city authority is looking at easing financial problems by saving £1.5million by axing 15 public toilets.

And in a move supported by city council leader Jenny Dawes it has been suggested pubs should open their doors to anyone needing to spend a penny.

But trade figures have poured cold water on the idea.

Scottish Licensed Trade Association chief executive Paul Waterson said: "With the vast number of restrictions and legislation publicans are now having to cope with I don't think the goodwill factor is there any more.

"There are obvious potential difficulties in having to supervise unlimited numbers of people wandering in and out all the time."

And Scottish Beer and Pub Association chief executive Patrick Browne said such a move would present hard-pressed licensees with another administrative burden.

A "comfort" scheme is already in operation in Perth and Kinross, in which an annual grant is available for owners willing to allow premises to be used as public toilets.

But pub managers and staff reckon such a move could see Edinburgh bars flooded with non-paying toilet users.

Kerry Foster, duty manager at the Ensign Ewart - which already sees people trying to use the toilets on their way to visit nearby Edinburgh Castle - said: "I think it would be difficult to supervise and make it more difficult to run the bar. Our toilets are fairly small and it would create a lot of extra work."

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said: "Absolutely nothing is hard and fast and this is purely a proposal, one of many, which people will have the opportunity to comment upon."

Publicans could be given discounted business rates if they take part.