Argyll and Bute councillors today authorised officers to accept the highest offer for the former public toilets at Main Street, Tobermory.

Four bids were received for the property, which was placed on the open market earlier this year inviting offers over £19,950.

Officers will now work to conclude the deal with the highest bidder, who will be announced once that has been achieved.

Council leader, Councillor Dick Walsh, said: “It is a statutory requirement for the council to secure the best price reasonably obtainable for its assets.

“While the assessment of the bids does not require to be wholly monetary, the council would need to have specific and justifiable reasons not to accept the highest offer.

“In this instance, our view is that there are no such reasons which are compelling enough for this council to turn down the offer of a significant amount of money to be redistributed to our services - particularly in the current challenging financial climate.”

The Oban, Lorn and the Isles area committee had previously voted to accept an offer of £1 from a local community group.

However, those who had originally voted in favour of that bid made it clear that they had done so on the basis of all information available at the time, but that the information had since changed.