2 weeks Ago
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 groups who have been so positive, whether about running council toilets or offering their facilities for public use.
" Councillor Jane Lamb, of Eastbourne Borough Council, tabled a motion to block the community toilet scheme, stating that public toilets are “essential” due to the town’s status as a tourist destination. Cllr Lamb objected to the proposed community toilet scheme (Image: Councillor Jane Lamb) Other cuts which were made to balance the council’s books for the next financial year included the closure of the Beachy Head Story, the heritage centre at the site. The centre shut its doors for the last time on September 30 and the move has resulted in staff redundancies.
At a council meeting on September 18, Cllr Holt said the council was seeking a new operator for the site. The council reported that providing "unprecedented levels of temporary accommodation threaten the financial viability of the authority". The community toilet scheme proposal will go before Eastbourne Borough Council’s cabinet on November 13 following a month-long public consultation.
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