The proposals from Rother District Council (RDC) to advertise the toilets were branded “ridiculous” and “crazy” by Rye Town Council at a meeting in December. Icklesham Parish Council has gone a step further and written a strongly worded letter complaining about the plans to leaders at RDC.
It says the toilets at Winchelsea and Winchelsea Beach are in a “terrible state of disrepair.” and should be demolished and replaced: “Rother District Council initially offered both facilities to Icklesham Parish Council on a leasehold basis. However, given the potential costs involved in demolishing and rebuilding, the parish council, on behalf of residents, stipulated that in order to take the toilets over the parish council would want the freehold interest of both sites. Rother District Council have refused to transfer the freehold and are now offering the sites to private businesses.”
You can read the full statement from Icklesham Parish Council here.
In Rye the three public conveniences are currently being advertised for lease at £9,500, £6,000 and £5,000 a year, plus 5% turnover rent. Lucknow Place in Fishmarket Road offers 651 sq ft of space, the Gun Garden 306 sq ft and the Strand Quay block 351 sq ft.
The proposal to convert and lease the larger Lucknow Place toilets comes as a surprise, as the facility was one of two in Rye that had earlier remained in use.
In 2023, closure of the Gun Garden and Strand Quay toilets due to Rother District Council financial cutbacks sparked controversy in Rye, a historic town attracting large numbers of visitors. Last summer, the facilities were reopened after Rye Town Council promised assistance. However, the idea of renting the spaces for another use, while retaining public-use toilets, had later come to the fore.
Hastings estate agent Dyer & Hobbis says the brick lavatory blocks could have a “potential leisure / retail / coffee shop use”, but that the new tenant will be required to provide “a reduced public toilet facility” during their opening hours. However, if cafes or similar enterprises open in the former toilets, it’s unclear whether the lavatories will be available all year given the highly seasonal nature of Rye’s tourism. All three toilet blocks are being advertised as a “leisure / office / retail” property type.
The public toilets on Station Approach in Rye are not part of the cafe proposals as they are owned by Network Rail and leased to Rother District Council. Rye Chamber of Commerce is exploring ways to fund repairs and maintenance here.
Image Credits: David Worwood .
To lease out the toilets on a very ill-defined basis has been agreed by our local representatives. When the Mayor for the whole of Sussex is based in Brighton what control will we have over what happens in our area?
With this major reduction in council services, an equivalent reduction in council managerial staff must surely be in the offing?
Where do all the massive council tax and car parking revenues go?
Ignoring merits / de-merits of the proposal rents with a 5% of turnover is a killer as frankly most small businesses cannot pay a fixed AND variable rent AND have to pay for the refurbishment/ structural work as required . Thus I speculate that these buildings once closed will never be re opened as anything at all
One option that I have seen in other countries is a pay toilet system. Open 24 hours and year round. There could be coin and card payment options or if collecting coins is too much effort, then a card payment. £1 a go to open the door so a couple or family could use it at the same time. Since these are all in sunny locations, solar panels could be easily installed to power the fee collection system and the lights to the toilets. Granted, this may encourage males to go round the back and relieve themselves as we’ve seen when they are closed, but perhaps it might keep them open year round and make it financially viable. Just a thought.
That is the oldest and now, poorest excuse to be used in destroying something of value. As if Rye and Winchelsea need more coffee and tea. Where are the customers supposed to go after devouring all of this caffeine? It isn’t the fault of the visitors who DO use the toilets. And what about all the other cafes nearby? Needless competition. Wow. This country is fast returning to mean old England. Alas, East Sussex has caught the proverbial greed bug. There are some things councils should be responsible for – public toilets are among them. Basic maintenance and a roster system for cleaning have always been what is needed. Sigh.
This sounds like a project that could be solved with community crowdfunding and matched funding.
Just as some communities have saved their local shops, pubs, and post offices in this way, could it be done for these essential conveniences?
One has too wonder who in their right mind would wish to take these toilets on and convert them into more coffee and cake shops, as if this town hasn’t enough of these businesses, it will be interesting too see if anyone will be foolish enough to waste money on this non-starter, and what will out of touch Rothe District Council will do,if there are no takers for their foolhardy plans.
I think that sounds a good idea Paul. Whatever the solution is we must remember that we need to encourage tourists to stay in town and to spend money and good clean public toilets must be available.
I’m all for Paul Camics idea.