We are welcoming informal notes of interest from community groups for the acquisition of five former public toilet facilities.
Details of the facilities for sale
This initial set of facilities, located across Galashiels, Hawick and Selkirk are due to be sold off as part of a rationalisation of public toilets in the Scottish Borders and were permanently closed in March 2023.
The facilities are:
· Galashiels – High Street Car Park
· Galashiels – Bank Street
· Newtown St Boswells – Main Street
· Selkirk – Scott’s Place
· Hawick – Howegate
How to begin the process of purchasing the facilities
Community asset transfer is a way that community organisations can take on the management, leasing or ownership of land and buildings owned by us.
It provides communities the opportunity to turn publicly owned land or buildings into successful community assets that benefit local people.
Recent examples of community management include the Lothian Park (The Glebe) toilet block which has been run for the last 18 months by the Jedburgh Leisure Facilities Trust. These kinds of initiatives are supported by the Community Empowerment Act, a key piece of legislation for local communities.
For more information on asset transfers, including the criteria that must be met by community groups to be eligible, and the support available to guide you through the asset transfer process can be found on our website.
Informal notes of interest can be directed to communityengagement@scotborders.gov.uk.
Councillor Simon Mountford, Executive Member for Estate Management and Planning:
“As part of our rationalisation of the Council’s estate, we have identified these public toilet facilities as buildings which could be sold on to alleviate the pressure on our property portfolio.
“We recognise that these facilities are valuable resources for the local communities they serve and by offering them up via the community asset transfer method we are offering communities the opportunity to secure the buildings for community use.”