Conservatives in Moray have expressed frustration that maintenance charges on toilets that provide basic human dignity will continue despite Conservatives formally calling for them to be cancelled at the recent meeting of the Moray Integrated Joint Board.
Moray MP Douglas Ross and Buckie councillor Tim Eagle campaigned for a rethink after people with Clos-o-mat toilets were hit with demands for payment.
Constituents said bills arrived out of the blue and backdated to May this year, while others who had recently had a toilet installed were told after the fact there would be a maintenance charge.
Mr Ross raised the matter with the Moray Health and Social Care Partnership and also wrote to Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who said in response that local authorities did have the right to charge people but should consider their ability to pay and the fairness of any charge.
Following discussions with senior management it was hoped the charges would be removed.
Scottish Conservative MP for Moray Douglas Ross said:
“It has taken several months of work on behalf of constituents affected to reach this point and I’m bitterly disappointed that these charges will continue.
“They were imposed without any warning and have penalised disabled and vulnerable people in Moray.
“Some residents had these toilets for several years without having to pay, while others just recently had them installed without being told they would be charged any fee.
“Several local people who contacted me said they were left angry and humiliated by the charge."
Scottish Conservative councillor for Buckie Tim Eagle said:
“These toilets are a basic necessity for many people living with disabilities.
“They are not a luxury and people should not be facing charges to use them.
"I know this will have been distressing for residents who were sent bills out of the blue.
Cllr Frank Brown who was the Conservative representation at the recent board meeting said:
“I am disappointed that despite trying to show why this particular charge was unacceptable in that this facility provides our most disabled people with some dignity for one of life’s basic functions, something we all take for granted, I got no support from Moray’s Integrated Joint Board.”
While I understand the financial pressures on the board we must ensure that charges are imposed carefully.”
This charge runs contrary to all the principles of free at the point of delivery.”
"Sadly I got no support from the three SNP members of the board and so this charge will continue to be imposed"
