UNDER-THREAT public toilets in the Borders' ‘gateway town’ are to remain open this winter after a funding gap was plugged.

Scottish Borders Borders closed toilets located at Jedburgh’s Lothian Park – known locally as the Glebe – during the pandemic.

Jedburgh Leisure Facilities Trust took over the operation of the toilets in September 2022, reopening them for public use.

But the trust relinquished the lease at the end of September 2024 due to financial constraints.

Now Jedburgh Community Trust (JCT) is to step into the breach and take over the running of the facility.

The cost of doing so and installing a voluntary payment machine to support running costs is £8,790.

When members of Jedburgh Common Good Fund met on Monday (November 18) they agreed to contribute £2,316 towards the short-term cost of operating the toilets over the winter, so that these premises can remain open while measures are put in place to secure longer term funding, and a method of revenue generation is implemented.

Trust treasurer Norman Kerr said: “It’s quite well known that the public want the toilets at Lothain Park to be kept open and it’s really just a case of how we do that as a community.

“The reason for the application is to get us over the winter period so we can put a plan in place that generates sufficient income to be able to not rely on any other external sources.

“The one thing we have discovered is there is likely going to need to be funding towards a method of electronic payment, so either a card or a phone reader or a coin machine, so there will be a small capital investment for that, so that should more than pay for itself.

“We’ve done a bit of market research in terms of the number of buses that come into that car park. Having talked to a number of bus drivers it would appear that on average there are four buses a day from the start of the tourist season at the beginning of April to the end of the tourist season in October.

“If you look at four buses a day over that 214-day period, even if we charged five pound per bus or 20p or 50p per person that could generate anything between £2,500 up to a maximum of £6,000, depending how many are on the bus. There are significant income opportunities.”

A report with the application stated: “Jedburgh is the gateway town for visitors coming to the Scottish Borders via the A68 and a particular attraction is the 12th century ruined abbey which is the first sight that greets visitors as they enter the town.

“This encourages visitors to stop at the Glebe car park, but without a toilet facility many visitors are likely to be discouraged from stopping to visit the town, and anecdotally we are aware that the news that the toilets may close has already had a negative impact on visitors.

“These facilities also provide comfort breaks for locals as well as tourists and sporting groups, and if funding can be provided these premises will continue to encourage people to stop and enjoy the history and the services within the town.

“An economic benefit to local traders has been identified through extra footfall, and JCT is keen to secure this for the future prosperity of the town.”