The authority is considering the possibility of introducing a 'comfort scheme' throughout the Kingdom, which would involve local businesses being paid to make their toilets available to the public.

The scheme, already up and running in Perth & Kinross, has been suggested as a way of saving cash on council-run facilities.

But Falkland's community council says that the idea would be inappropriate in the village, which has large numbers of visitors.

The community council has written to the three Howe of Fife councillors — David MacDiarmid, Andrew Arbuckle and Donald Lothian — urging them to oppose the scheme.

Chairman Anthony Garrett said: "The proper and adequate provision of toilets is essential to meet the needs of visitors.

"It would be very wrong to put them to any embarrassment in having to appeal to the good nature of private establishments.

"This argument applies to all towns, and indeed villages, in Fife, but is particularly relevant to those which have a major tourist business."

Councillor MacDiarmid said he would give the community council his whole-hearted backing in opposing a scheme which he described as 'crazy'.

He said: "Closing Falkland's public toilets is just not an option.
"The amount of money that would be saved would be paltry, but the effects on local tourism would be significant.

CRAZY

"We have thousands of visitors in the village every year, many of them walkers who use the facilities either when setting off up East Lomond or coming down.

"It would be crazy to expect them to use the toilets in local businesses."

The public loos in Falkland are among 14 unstaffed facilities throughout north east Fife that could be earmarked for closure under the new scheme.

But the council's environmental services manager Roddy Mann insisted that the plan was far from signed and sealed.

He said: "We will be gathering feedback from all seven of Fife's local area committees before we formally draft a report to present to the council's environment and transportation committee.

"It is not a 'one size fits all' scheme; there is a whole range of options we will explore as part of the consultation process.
"The views of the people in Falkland will not be ignored."