Loo must be kidding

David O'Leary • Published 15 Apr 2011 09:30 0 Comments

FORESTRY bosses have been left red-faced after a torrent of complaints from bikers about facilities at the South of Scotland's most popular attraction.

Thousands of mountain bikers and walkers arrive at Glentress every week.

And even more families than normal enjoyed the trails over the past few days due to the local school holidays.

But any of them wanting to spend a penny or get changed over the past week had to endure an embarrassing trek to a cabin with a flimsy moveable screen to spare their blushes.

This lamentable situation occurred after portable cabins containing rest rooms and a shower block were removed after their lease expired.

And the facilities within the Forestry Commission's soon-to-open £9 million Glentress Peel building were still unsuitable for use.

Workers at the popular centre had to hastily arrange a communal loo and changing room.

Local biker Brian Thomson was stunned by the facilities. He said: "Words escape me as to how I could best describe this new 'unisex toilet area'. The embarrassment this caused to a number of visitors was clear to see.

"Young mothers with children were clearly distressed as to what was facing them just to be able to go to the loo.

"Surely a few hundred pounds more for two weeks rental of the portable cabins could have been found."

Complaints have flooded in from regulars and many arriving at the world-famous centre for the first time.

But Forestry bosses claim they will have proper facilities in place ahead of the upcoming Easter holidays.

A spokesman for Forestry Commission Scotland said: "Our previous toilet and shower blocks had reached the end of hire agreement so were removed in the transition period for when the Glentress Peel development opens shortly.

"The main facilities that were available last weekend were the staff's toilet area and changing rooms. These were the same facilities that were on offer during December and January when we had extreme cold weather and the portable loos were frozen. We never received a single complaint during those two months.

"Also available were the toilets at the cafe if you were a cafe customer, the toilets at Buzzards nest and the toilet block at Red Squirrel/Fall Brae car parks.

"However, we do acknowledge that the Easter weekend is a busier period than most so we have four new toilets arriving today (Thursday)."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 15 Apr 11

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