DISABLED access to public toilet facilities in Peebles will remain free of charge despite concerns over specialist keys being abused.

Peebles Community Trust (PCT) will take over the running of two cubicles at public facilities on the School Brae, which is currently closed.

Peebles Community Council chairman Les Turnbull said last month that “some difficulties” had been encountered during discussions with the local authority.

These difficulties had prevented a takeover agreement being reached before Christmas.

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He also told members of the community council that “regrettably” the PCT would be charging for use of the disabled toilet because of inconsiderate people abusing RADAR keys.

However, following an online backlash from members of the community dubbing the move “disgraceful”, the community trust listened to the public and has U-turned on its controversial charging decision.

Updating members of the town’s community council, Mr Turnbull explained: “Due to matters beyond PCT’s control, the opening that we thought might have happened this month didn’t.

"The good news is, we are looking to have a start date of the February 1.

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"That will be for what is currently the disabled toilet and the cubicle next to it.

“After some publicity on social media about the charging regime that the PCT was considering, members have re-visited this.

"In relation to the disabled toilet, the RADAR keys will stay, certainly for the time being, and on that door there will also be a cashless pay system.

"So if you’ve got a bank card you can use that to get in, and there will also be a coin operated system on it.

“On the other cubicle we will just keep the coin-operated system.

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"Therefore, we will have two toilet cubicles in the town centre which can be accessed by radar key, if you have one, by cashless bank card, or by coin.

"The PCT will be able to monitor the use of all of these payment methods so we can start to establish how many people are actually using the toilets and, whether or not the RADAR keys are in fact being abused by all and sundry, because you can buy these things quite easily.”

Mr Turnbull said that Scottish Borders Council has been “helpful” in assisting the Peebles Community Trust in its mission to reopen the toilets.

The six-month pilot will begin on February 1.

During this period, Peebles Community Trust will be looking at the figures to establish whether there is a realistic prospect of taking on all the town centre toilet facilities.

RADAR keys are part of the National Key Scheme.