The Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council is 'confident' that all seafront toilets will remain open after the council received a 'positive' response to a proposed community toilet scheme.
Savings proposals are set to be considered by Cabinet councillors at Eastbourne Borough Council as unprecedented levels of temporary accommodation threaten the financial viability of the authority.
The cost of living crisis and no-fault evictions are both key factors that have led to rising numbers of residents unable to pay their mortgages and rent, leaving them in need of accommodation.
The council is currently spending nearly £5 million a year on temporary accommodation, which is 49p in every pound collected in council tax.
Over the last two months, the council has been consulting with residents and groups on a range of measures to save £2.7 million in this current financial year.
Proposals that include a new community toilet scheme and a reconfiguration of the Sovereign Centre will go before the council's Cabinet on November 13.
Councillor Stephen Holt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, 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.
"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."
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