COMMUNITY calls have been answered after it was agreed to keep public toilets in a Peebles park open all year long.

The town’s common good fund sub-committee met on Wednesday evening (June 8) to discuss the possibility of making the loos more available.

Tweeddale East councillor Robin Tatler said that the public toilets in Hay Lodge Park were only open between April and October.

But the green space plays host to a park run on Saturdays and organisers, as well as Peebles Community Council, asked whether the facilities could be kept open on weekends throughout the winter.

Recently-appointed Tweeddale West councillor Drummond Begg, of the Liberal Democrats, told the meeting that public toilets were an issue raised by residents throughout the election campaign.

“In principle I’m strongly in favour of toilets being open and more available in Peebles especially for park runs and to increase the use of and advertise Peebles as open to all with appropriate facilities,” he said.

Community councillor Peter Maudsley said: “Recently there was a lot of adverse feedback relating to the fouling going on in Hay Lodge Park because people couldn’t be bothered to seek out an open loo, the nearest being Kingsmeadows Car Park.”

Mr Maudsley added that parents taking their children on the school run were also behind the push to open the toilets throughout the year.

The meeting heard that it would cost around £2,600 to keep the park loos open for the winter due to cleaning and utility fees.

Mr Tatler backed the calls for extended opening on a one-year trial basis, seconded by Conservative Tweeddale East councillor Julie Pirone.