Visitors to Highland Perthshire tourism spots are set to benefit from a new public toilet and motorhome waste disposal facilities thanks a major funding boost of more than £230,000.
The award to Perth and Kinross Council from VisitScotland will see the creation of the new, year-round, free-to-use lavatories near Aberfeldy in response to the significant increases in visitor numbers.
The new comfort hub at the Aberfeldy Car Park, next to Beyond Adventure, will also include waste disposal facilities for the growing number of motorhome users touring the area.
The project includes a visitor information point for the River Tay Way, including: boards detailing the route; visitor attractions and businesses in the area; messages on biodiversity; what visitors can do to mitigate climate change; and details of climate change mitigation provision within the facility.
The project is being jointly delivered by PKC and Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT), who are developing the River Tay Way.
Funding for this new free public facility is coming from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), which was established by the Scottish Government and is managed by VisitScotland on their behalf.
RTIF is designed to support collaborative projects that focus on improving the visitor experience in rural parts of Scotland that are facing immediate and damaging pressures on their infrastructure, or negative impacts on communities due to significant increases in visitor numbers.
Highland Ward councillor John Duff said: “The council’s approach to tourism is not just about growing tourism but about making the visit a quality and sustainable experience.
“We don’t want our beautiful scenic landscapes, or our rural areas spoiled by irresponsible behaviours.
“We want to develop ‘responsible tourism’ and to adopt a more managed approach to visitors of all kinds.
“For all these reasons, we have been working in partnership with PKCT to secure funding for this vital toilet facility in Aberfeldy – which I am sure will be welcomed by residents and visitors alike.
“The area has seen substantial increases in domestic tourism and in the staycation market, particularly those with motorhomes, and this facility will be a valuable asset, both the residents and tourists visiting the Aberfeldy area.”
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