Only a month left to have your say on future of East Devon public toilets

Hundreds of people have already shared their views on what should happen to East Devon's public toilets.

Residents, businesses and town and parish councils, visitors and others have just one month left to have their say on how £3millon should be spent on upgrading or selling off public facilities to help lower running costs in years to come.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) is planning to use a substantial amount of capital investment to ensure the district has the best, most modernised toilets, located in the right place, that cost less money to run while also maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness.

However, the authority can't continue to operate all the public toilets as they currently are, so is also investigating the locations and potential alternative uses for some sites.

The proposals include refurbishing the West Walk toilets in Seaton and the Jubilee Gardens toilets in Beer.

Less used toilets in Seaton, including the Harbour Road and Hole facilities, have been listed in the public consultation as 'Category B', meaning the council will look at other options for the use of the site, including marketing a lease opportunity for a different offer such as a café, to include a publicly accessible toilet, or sell the public toilets, depending on the options for each particular site.

Town or parish councils and community groups could bid for these sites as well

The Marsh Road toilets in Seaton and Dolphin Street facilities in Colyton are less used and the council believes there is no commercial alternative that could provide an income and publicly accessible toilet at these sites.

Instead, it is proposed that these sites should be offered as a freehold transfer for a negligible/very low amount to the town or parish council or community group to operate with a requirement that they should make an additional payment to us should the use subsequently change.

So far, about 600 people have shared their views in the consultation which closes at 5pm on Friday, October 1. 

A favourite idea is to revamp a number of toilets so they are like the model seen on Exmouth seafront at Queen's Drive/Old Lifeboat Station.

This includes a mix of toilet for men, women, unisex, baby changing facilities and disabled toilets.

Each toilet cubicle has its own washing area, meaning there's no need for a communal area and instead can be accessed straight off the street.

Communal washing areas in public toilets are often targets of anti-social behaviour damage so this would also help to address that.

Another idea would be to have a two-to-one ratio of toilets within public toilet facility, in favour of women, to reduce queueing times.

Other interesting comments already been made through the consultation include the following: 

• Look at rain harvesting solutions - solar power and even card donation.  Offer local shops who allow use of toilets a financial incentive.

• In Exmouth make it a condition for certain planning that public access to toilets is provided - The Ocean, Premier Inn and the Pavilion are prime examples.

• We'd be interested in taking on this toilet, so we can run a café and keep a public toilet available for people inside the café.

• During COVID I witnessed multiple people going to the toilet by beach huts at the sea front due to toilet closures, so I think the proximity of toilets in a holiday town should be reduced to avoid this unpleasant behaviour. Equally disabled visitors to the town and sea front should not have a significant trek to public facilities.

• Ensuring at a minimum that there is a toilet block within an eight minute walk is not practical. We can't expect someone who is able bodied who is desperate for the toilet to walk for eight minutes to a toilet.

• I would be happy to pay 30p if that would mean more toilets would be provided.

• You are failing to consider adequately the needs of the disabled or to allow for the greater toileting need of elderly residents and visitors.

• I don't think toilets needs to be modern and in line for awards. When I need a toilet I do not care what condition it is in - I'd rather have less focus on condition and more focus on relief!

• You need to figure it out: Sidmouth needs both Port Royal and the Marketplace. It's a public health hazard to close either.

Possible alternative uses could include toilets provided by businesses or organisations – such as a café with a public toilet or another community facility.

The idea for 'pay-to-use' public conveniences is also being put forward – this could help pay for the running costs of the toilets that are important for residents and tourists alike.

Due to reductions in central government funding, over the past 10 years, EDDC is facing a £3million funding gap in 2022, unless it changes the way it operates some services.

In 2019 £473,000 was spent running the public convenience service. This provided 30 public toilet sites, 26 owned and operated by the council and four maintained for others.

It amounts to an average of £15,786 a year to directly look after each toilet block, this includes the maintenance of the toilets and providing water, toilet rolls, cleaning them twice a day and management costs.

Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment said: "I would like to thank everyone who has had their say so far and taken the time to take part in this consultation.

"If you haven't had your say already, please do, we want to hear from as many people as possible from all ages and backgrounds."

You can share your views by filling in the online questionnaire by visiting www.eastdevon.gov.uk/publictoiletreview  

If you need a copy of the consultation on paper or in any other format, contact the council to discuss your needs by emailing [M+][email protected][M+][email protected][.M] or call 01395 517569.