LOCAL businesses are being encouraged to offer their toilets to the public – free of charge.

Council bosses have issued an appeal through community councils across the region to ask Borderers to get involved in a 'community partnership' or a 'comfort scheme'.

The appeal states: “We are seeking to engage with community councils, local groups, businesses and others in the community who are interested in getting involved in either a comfort scheme or community partnership.

“A comfort scheme is where a hotel, pub, shop, village hall or public building offers its toilet facilities for the public to use at no cost – regardless of whether they are a customer or not – and receive an annual payment from the council for doing so.

“This has successfully taken place in a pub and amusement arcade in Eyemouth and in seven other Scottish council areas.

“A community partnership is where public toilets are transferred to a community group for it to run. 

“This has successfully taken place in Coldingham, when its toilets were transferred to a community group as part of a project which saw local people create a post office and interpretation centre. Community partnerships are also run in four other Scottish council areas.”

The appeal has been launched after the local authority announced it will place a 30p charge on 27 of its 41 public toilets in the region, from this summer.

Bosses say the initiatives could help businesses generate more trade, while offering extra income. 

Businesses will also be listed on the council’s website and social media pages.