The toilets on Station Approach in Rye will be refurbished this summer says Rother District Council (RDC). Complaints about the condition of the toilets continue to be raised, including at last week’s Rye Town Council meeting when they were described as “appalling”.
The meeting also suggested the toilets, which are run by RDC but owned by Network Rail, should be knocked down and replaced. A long term solution to the toilets, and their funding, has also been explored by Rye Chamber of Commerce.
In a statement to Rye News a spokesperson for RDC acknowledged the toilets were in urgent need of work. “There have been recurring issues at the Station Approach toilets, and previous repairs have unfortunately not been successful in providing a permanent fix. Over the summer, our maintenance team plans to carry out some refurbishment of the toilets to resolve this. Before work can begin, we need to carry out a full assessment to confirm the repairs that will be needed and look at how we can continue to offer toilet facilities whilst work is in progress.”
The work will take place at the busiest time for the tourist season. The three other public toilets could be closed for the winter during renovation work connected to new commercial leases. RDC is in the process of leasing the toilets on the Strand and Gun Garden to be partly converted into coffee shops, with the building on the Salts becoming a cycle hub with toilet provision.
That plan will be discussed by RDC’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday, July 7 after councillors raised concerns about a lack of public consultation. Councillors will decide whether to “call in” the plan to lease the toilets across the district for a full debate at the council. Councillors covering Sedlescombe and Winchelsea Beach have raised the issue for discussion, but it’s likely any decision will also affect all the toilets being leased commercially in the district – including the three in Rye.
Image Credits: James Stewart .
Why start the refurbishment in the summer when the town will be heaving with holiday makers and visitors? Why can’t these things be properly planned out and maybe start work in the autumn when there isn’t so many people around?
I can never understand how Rye always does these urgent repairs to anything when the town is at its busiest which causes major disruptions?.
These toilets have been like this for years, so it’s not like you never had time to forward plan this refurbishment.
Someone who lived in Rye for a number of years said to me recently “Rye is looking so shabby compared with Bexhill.” I had to agree with her. Clearly forward planning is something RDC are oblivious to! Once the toilets are refurbished who is going to ensure they are cleaned and restocked regularly? Maybe visitors could be charged for using ‘clean, pleasant toilets’ and this would go somewhere towards paying the wages of a cleaner.
There are more than enough places to purchase coffee etc in Rye so why are RDC leasing out part of the toilets on The Strand and Gun Gardens?
If I might add my one penny worth!
There is talk of demolishing the toilet block by the station, the first thing visitors arriving by train and coach see.
A quick look tells me the brick and tiled building, from the 70s? Is in good condition and demolition would release many tonnes of embedded co2.
The problem is the fittings and internal finishes, which could be completely renewed on a rolling programme so that the toilets could remain open.
Firstly the disabled toilet could be refurbished so at least one wc is available.
Then the men’s area could be stripped and renewed, with the women’s acting as a temporary unisex toilet; there are several cubicles. Then the women’s area could be refurbished.
When the whole project is finished, it should include two card readers for payment – £1 would be reasonable and could pay for a full time or an hourly attendant, to keep the building clean and fragrant.
There may need to be some sort of air handling to avoid the present nasty smells.
Most continental loos charge at least €1.
Totally agree with that!