Older people can enjoy Lanark town centre with more confidence

Published: Monday 2 November 2026

Representatives of Seniors Together, the local community, the participating toilet-venues, Clydesdale Family Support Hub and Police Scotland gather at the launch of the Lanark Town Centre Age-friendly Toilet Map at Lanark Memorial Hall in October 2026.

Older people can now move around Lanark with more confidence, dignity and independence after the launch of the town’s Age-friendly Toilet Map.

The map – which is available in both digital and paper form – shows toilets available for the public to use in Lanark town centre.

It was produced following a survey run by Seniors Together, the council’s partnership that helps older people stay active, connected and well. The survey explored members’ and residents’ experiences of accessing public toilets and the impact this has on confidence, participation and planning trips out.

The results showed that a large majority of respondents find themselves limited in how long they can stay out in the town centre. They also said they restrict their eating and drinking if they don’t know of an available toilet, and that coping with medical conditions can be difficult without accessible toilets.

For more than half of the respondents, not knowing where a toilet will be available is a barrier to going out altogether.

Support for the proposal in the survey of a toilet map was almost unanimous, while 86% also said that it would encourage them to go out.

A screenshot of the online version of Lanark town centre's Age-friendly toilet map.

South Lanarkshire Council’s Older People's Champion, Councillor Eileen Logan, said: “The need to know, especially in advance, where they can find ready access to toilet facilities has been a long-standing issue for Seniors Together members, and this map directly addresses that.

“Through the survey, our older people told us clearly that a toilet map would be a great help to them, and I am delighted that they now have one.”

Catriona Mason, Chairperson of Seniors Together, said: “Older people can now plan ahead of their trips to the centre of Lanark, as well as being able consult the map when they are out and about, if the need arises.

“It’s good that the map has been created as part of the ongoing development of Age Friendly South Lanarkshire, in which Seniors Together is the lead partner.”

Seniors Together worked with Lanark Community Development Trust and South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture to create the map. It was launched in Lanark Memorial Hall to coincide with International Day of Older Persons, and the event included members of the local community along with representatives from the participating toilet-venues, Clydesdale Family Support Hub and Police Scotland.

The digital form of the toilet map can be found on the council’s website. Anyone wishing the paper version can contact the Seniors Together team by email or by calling 01698 454105.

The digital map can also easily be updated if any new facilities become available. Any new suggestions and feedback will be welcomed by the Seniors Together team.