Number One Priority — Public Toilets Across Worthing Set For Investment

Friday, 6 January 2023 06:00

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Cllr Wells pictured next to the town's public toilets at the High Street multi-storey car park

Public toilets across Worthing are set to receive some special attention following a survey by Council officers and the borough’s Cabinet Member for the Environment.

Cllr Vicki Wells joined officers on an inspection of the town’s public loos to assess their condition. The results of the “Toilet Tour” identified a series of improvements that could be carried out on 10 of the town centre’s toilets.

Cllr Wells said:

“Our public loos need a lot of work to bring them up to the standard we expect for residents and visitors to the town.

“We recognise public toilets are an essential part of our town’s infrastructure, and through the Toilet Tour have identified which loos need prioritising for improvement works given the budget we have."

Following the tour, the Lido and the High Street multi-storey car park toilets will be prioritised for renovation in the next financial year.

In the meantime, these loos will receive some TLC from Council teams who will also carry out minor redecoration works to facilities at Worthing Pier and the public loos opposite the Dome Cinema on the seafront.

Improving public toilets for residents and tourists was raised in The Big Listen this summer, during which the Council held conversations with people at sites across Worthing on how they would like to see the town improved.

As well as enhancing the existing toilets across the borough, the Council is preparing to add a new Changing Places facility - a larger, accessible toilet with access equipment to support those with mobility issues - near the Guildbourne Centre.

The Council was successful in bidding for £100k of the government's Changing Places Fund, which is making the new accessible toilet possible.

Officers are currently examining exactly where the toilet will be sited, but it’s due to be installed close to High Street multi-storey car park in the summer of 2023.

Following feedback from residents, the Council is also looking into ways that mobility vehicles and equipment can be secured outside public toilets, so that the users can be reassured that their vehicles are not at risk of being stolen.