CONCERNS have been raised over the “disgraceful state” of public toilets in North Berwick.

The quality of the toilets on the town’s Quality Street has long been lauded by residents and visitors alike, but last week it drew criticism from one resident, who contacted the Courier to offer her concerns.

Helen Mulgray wrote: “I was shocked to see how the cleanliness of the toilets had deteriorated.

“These once highly praised, award-winning toilets have been degraded to become offensive and at times a health hazard – no soap to wash hands and no toilet paper unless [it is] picked off the floor.”

She described the condition of the toilets as a “disgraceful memory of a visit to North Berwick” for the thousands of visitors that flock to the town every summer.

East Lothian Council is currently proposing to cut the permanent toilet attendants at the county’s public loos and instead see them maintained by an extended team of mobile attendants.

Ms Mulgray slammed the council for the proposal, adding: “Implementing the proposed plan to do away with full-time attendants means this mess will be a permanent sight for visitors to the toilets.

“It takes no account of the crowds coming from the beach until late, busloads stopping at the car park, and events like the Fringe [by the Sea] and the [Highland] Games.

“Is saving money this way more important than the tourist image of North Berwick?”

Ms Mulgray added that when she returned to the toilets last Monday, they were “spotless”.

She put the improvements down to the fact that the usual full-time attendant had returned from annual leave.

Ms Mulgray wrote to the council to express her concerns about the toilets being allowed to deteriorate last week and, in a response seen by the Courier, Lorraine Faulds, senior officer of facilities management, wrote: “Looking at your specific concerns with North Berwick toilets, it has been maintained by a combination of permanent and mobile attendants for more than six years.

“This pattern has ensured appropriate levels of cleanliness throughout the year and includes recognition of the busier summer months.

“We are aware that at any toilet, on any occasion, whether by intent or accident, toilets or sinks can be blocked by paper or left as debris.

“Fortunately these remain isolated incidents at our sites and North Berwick toilets actually have a more frequent attendance by the mobile attendants than some of our other sites.”

She said the emptying of sanitary bins would increase from once a week to twice due to Ms Mulgray’s complaint of them “overflowing”.

The letter added: “We take our service provision extremely seriously and aim to maintain the very high standards of our public toilets.”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “We follow up on all feedback raised about our facilities to maintain a quality service across the county’s public toilets.”