Shop boss is at the public's convenience

A retail manager has stepped in to save Forres town centre public toilets from closure.

Forres store manager, Craig Milton, accepted an invitation from Forres Community Council (FCC), to take on responsibility for the Leys Road toilets and keep the amenity open.

Mr Milton is manager at the Co-operative store on Forres High Street, and was praised for his action at the last meeting of the Forres Community Council.

“The Co-Op is once again showing its cooperative community-based principles and we are very grateful for their help,” said FCC chair, Stewart Noble.

“With the support of local folk there is little we cannot achieve.”

The toilets were initially threatened with closure as part of Moray Council budget cutbacks a few years ago. However, the local authority retained responsibility for opening, cleaning and servicing them but came to an arrangement with FCC to lock the toilets at night.

Following the resignation of former chair and keys holder, Bob Hellyer, FCC asked Mr Milton to accept the keys, keeping them open for locals and visitors to the town.

The new FCC chair Mr Noble is keen to further involve the Forres public in local issues.

“All of our councillors are working really hard to learn the ropes and we are re-organising to better represent local people,” he said.

“We are rebuilding bridges with other agencies as well as with the wider community.

“I would like to express my thanks to local residents Dave and Gillian McRobbie for taking on the task of locking the toilets at very short notice until a more long term solution was found”.