Cleaning staff responsible for looking after The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport service toilets are celebrating after scooping 6 national category awards, 4 major national awards and taking home the top UK Trophy for the best Local Authority Entries.
The Loo of The Year UK Awards took place in Birmingham on Friday and the first results to be announced were the 2010 National Category Winners for Scotland. Thurso Library, Inverlochy Nursery, Acharacle Primary, Invergordon Academy, the Glen Centre in Aviemore and The Archive Centre in Inverness all were announced as Scottish category winners.
2010 National Category Winners (Scotland)
Libraries - Thurso Library
Early Schools - Inverlochy Nursery
Primary Schools - Acharacle Primary
Secondary Schools - Invergordon Academy
Day Centres - Glen Centre, Aviemore
Commercial & Public Offices - Archive Centre, Inverness
The presentation then moved on to announce the Major National Award category winners. Golspie Primary School toilets won the National Accessible Toilets award with the Council also taking the national award for Education Toilets. Organisers of The Loo of the Year Awards introduced two new major national award categories for 2010. The Best Eco Friendly Toilets Award went to Acharacle Primary School in Lochaber and the top Local Authority Entries Award also went to The Highland Council.
Each successful entry was assessed using a strict judging criteria which included signage, décor and maintenance, cleanliness, fixtures and fittings, accessible facilities and overall management and customer care made during an unannounced visit by an authorised Loo Of The Year Awards Inspector.
The final award announced and presented on the day was the UK Trophy winner for best Local Authority Entries with representatives from The Highland Council invited on to the stage to collect the trophy from the Guest of Honour, comedian Les Dennis.
Chairman of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee, Councillor Bill Fernie congratulated everyone involved. He said: "To win so many national awards is a great achievement and reflects the hard work and commitment of our staff who take pride in ensuring the very best of toilet facilities are provided. Our school pupils and teaching staff should also be given credit for their support and efforts to ensure the work of cleaning staff is respected. Competition from across the whole UK for these awards has got stronger each year so to win the top trophy for best Local Authority entries really is an incredible result. Everyone involved should take pride in the fact that they are setting the high standards for the rest of the UK to follow and behalf of the whole council I give them our sincere congratulations. "
During the ceremony the Council was also presented with 49 grading certificates. The number of five star facilities has increased to an all time high of 42. A further 5 toilets were awarded 4 stars and 2 awarded 3 stars.