Jayne Baxter outside Brunton House on Cowdenbeath High Street
Public toilets in Cowdenbeath are essential for the future success of the town centre according to Labour candidate for the town Jayne Baxter; who has this week written to Fife Council asking what plans are in place to support the local economy and in particular the regeneration of Cowdenbeath High St.
In a letter to the Council’s Area Services Manager, Mrs Baxter said “I understand that the Council has agreed that the toilets in the refurbished Brunton House are to be available for public use and this is a welcome move. It leads me to the wider question of how people will know that the toilets are open to the public, and are there any plans to put up signs around the High St and surrounding area, to let people know.”
“I was amazed when Council went against public opinion and insisted on closing the old public toilets. This in spite of a local campaign from the wider community and a petition urging them to reconsider that position”.
Mrs Baxter is highlighting the need for a more coordinated approach to supporting the local economy and High Street and wants to involve local businesses, local groups and the Council in developing a plan for growth that will deliver sustainable improvements to the High Street.
She says the lack of information about access to public toilets is just one area that needs improvement with immediate effect and added; “Local businesses in Cowdenbeath are working hard in the face of harsh economic conditions. To be successful, town centres must be attractive and accessible to shoppers, and here in Cowdenbeath whilst there is an impressive range of shops and places to eat, that needs to be enhanced by accessible and reliable public transport, clean and safe streets, and signs which show the way to local services and facilities like toilets, parking, and bus and rail stations. I will be contacting local traders over the coming weeks to find out what they think and will work with them to deliver improvements”.
