Members of the Living Rent tenants’ union in Gorgie-Dalry held an action on Saturday, April 15, demanding that the council commit to re-opening the public toilets in the area.
Attendees talked to passing residents about their needs for public toilets and heard speakers from the community council and other local groups describe the impact of the lack of public facilities.
Living Rent say that since loss of the Ardmillan Terrace public toilets in 2015, the Gorgie and Dalry area has had no facilities, with the closest being over a mile away
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Members of Living Rent Tenants Union say that the lack of public toilets has a negative effect on the accessibility of the area and point to figures that show that the lack of available facilities deters as many as one in five from venturing out of their homes and impacting two in five of those with medical conditions.
According to a BBC article referenced by Living Rent from 2016, over 2,000 public toilets have closed across the UK as part of the Government's cuts to public services, including ten in Edinburgh.
Considering the Gorgie and Dalry area is home to roughly 20,000 people, with several schools, a busy high street, and a football stadium, Living Rent believes public toilets are vital for such a busy community.
On Saturday morning, the group staged a protest outside the Co-op on Dalry Road holding up signs, speaking to locals, and taking turns throwing toilet rolls at a makeshift target.
Amy Cantlay, Living Rent Gorgie Dalry member and postal worker, says: “As a postie, toilet locations are always on my mind. Being out and about all the time without guaranteed access to a toilet can be quite stressful at times. Especially in the summer when it's hot and we are drinking more to keep cool.
"You're always keeping in mind where toilets are and which shops you can use but not every shop is so kind and many will often say no even when you have post for their business.
"While there are options like certain shops and supermarkets they can sometimes be out of your delivery path and take up a lot of time which can make it pretty inconvenient when trying to get on with your work.
"An accessible public toilet would mean many posties will know exactly where they can go to the toilet with ease and convenience.
"They are even more important with summer approaching as I know so many posties who actively don't drink anything whilst at work because going to the toilet isn't an option for them which is very risky in hot weather.”
Ruaraidh Dempster, a Living Rent member, added: “The stark lack of public services, such as public toilets, in Gorgie-Dalry is a reflection of the lack of investment and care by governing bodies. A necessity for disabled people, the homeless, and families, direly needed by posties, bin men, and bus drivers, Gorgie desperately needs public services to match its need.
"I can't keep relying on small businesses to fill a void left by lack of investment - and neither can Gorgie-Dalry. This community demands and deserves the services to meet our needs."
A spokesperson for the UK Government advised that the loss of public toilets is a local authority issue. The City of Edinburgh Council was approached for comment.
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