A council leader is confident public seafront toilets will not be closed as the authority considers savings worth millions. In September, Eastbourne Borough Council proposed cost-cutting measures to fill a £2.7 million budget deficit.
Among those proposals was a community toilet scheme, which would see businesses in the town asked to allow public access to their facilities. Fears grew over the potential closure of public toilets as council leader Councillor Stephen Holt said any toilets vandalised during the consultation period would be closed, with Friends of Eastbourne Seafront launching a petition against any closures. However, Cllr Holt has now said he is “confident” public facilities on the seafront will remain open.
READ MORE: More government support needed to bridge multi-million pound deficit, council warns He said: “I have repeatedly said that I agree with the calls made to protect the toilets in Eastbourne and have been laser focused on doing exactly that. And I am now confident that we can keep all the seafront toilets open. "We are also negotiating with partners on keeping the other public toilets open across the town.
Officers are bringing forward plans that could see more publicly accessible toilets than ever before. “We are discussing 19 potential toilet locations, including in areas where there hasn't been provision before. "The response to our proposed community toilet scheme has been heartening, and I'd like to thank the businesses and community gro.