DISABILITY campaigners are urging the First Minister to take action on the "disgraceful" locking of accessible toilets.
Margaret Ellis, member of the Holyrood cross party group (CPG) on disability, spoke with The National about the locking of accessible toilets in the Highlands, which is illegal under the Equality Act 2010.
Ellis, who lives in Achiltibuie, north of Ullapool, said that the nearest public disabled toilet remains locked. The facility has a sign which instructs potential users to collect a key from an unnamed post office, which is situated half a mile away and only opens for two hours four days a week.
“My village has a lot of excellent toilets, all of which are accessible but one”, she noted.
“There is not even a bush nearby, let alone a hedge to shelter by as an ‘accessible toilet’.”
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon previously helped the CPG hold a formal review into the locking of disabled toilets.
Sturgeon reportedly told the group she was “horrified” by the issue and suggested the group held another review around three years after the initial meeting, though Ellis said John Swinney has yet to engage with her.
“It is disgraceful, and it’s now a question of how to get in touch with John Swinney”, she said.
“We are only asking for one hour of his time, not a week in Honolulu. One hour to stop councils from breaking the law and causing misery for a massive group of people.”
She recently met with Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart, who allegedly expressed an understanding of the need for a review but said she was “not in charge” of arrangements.
Ellis said that the community council in Achiltibuie had offered to cover the costs of keeping the accessible toilet unlocked for disabled patrons, but that Highland Council rejected the proposal without explanation.
When asked why it was declined, Ellis said: “You’d have to ask them. They didn’t want to speak with the community council.”
She told The National that the only alternative was a “very efficient” local Tesco which has a disabled facility on its premises.
“The manager is also very efficient, and he told me once, ‘Maggie, we can only try’”, she said.
The 2022 census showed there are 1.3 million people with registered disabilities in Scotland – around 24% of the population.
Ellis believes that without engagement on the matter, it could cost votes for the SNP in next year’s Holyrood elections.
“I’m not an overly political person, but I can well see that there are 1.3 million people who won’t be voting for John Swinney in the next election”, she said.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The Highland Council operates 74 public toilets, 50 of which include disabled facilities. Of these, 42 use the RADAR key system – a nationally recognised scheme allowing independent access for disabled people. The council also supports 54 Comfort Schemes, many of which offer accessible facilities without requiring a RADAR key.
“Ullapool is a council-run facility, while Achiltibuie is part of the Comfort Scheme network.
“The council has a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010 to meet the reasonable needs of disabled people and to promote equality. Using the RADAR scheme helps ensure accessible toilets remain available, clean, and secure.
"This system is in place across the UK and managed by Disability Rights UK. Installing RADAR locks is not considered a breach of equality law. It’s a way to uphold access while reducing misuse.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is strongly committed to improving the lives of disabled people.
"This includes a £10 million investment over two years to deliver up to 150 new Changing Places Toilets across Scotland, providing essential facilities for people with complex disabilities. We are also investing a further £2.5 million to strengthen the Disability Equality Plan, which will improve access to support and services.
“Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart recently met with Ms Ellis to discuss concerns around accessible public toilet provision and explore what can be done to address the issue.
“We recognise the vital role that accessible public toilets play in supporting disabled people, particularly in busy areas and tourist destinations. Responsibility for providing these facilities lies with the landowner - this may include local authorities, community organisations, tourist boards, or other bodies.
“We hope this matter can be resolved as an important step in supporting the local community and ensuring that disabled people can access the facilities they need.”
