New pay-to-use public toilets and showers have finally arrived in Sandown after long delays.
The new public toilet and shower block at Sandown was officially opened on Thursday by the town’s mayor Paddy Lightfoot.
It includes an accessible cubicle, gender-neutral units and a contactless payment system for customers to pay the initial 20p charge. Costing more than £200,000, at least 1 million visits would be needed to recoup those significant costs.
As previously reported by the Island Echo, the project was also beset by delays after Southern Water raised an objection that the facility would be too close to a sewer. However the impasse was eventually resolved and work finally got underway last October.
Businesses and residents will be pleased that the works have been completed before the busy summer season.
What on earth are are ‘Gender Neutral’ toilets?!
What’s wrong with ‘multi-user’ or, Heaven forbid, the old-fashioned ‘Unisex’ terminology?
When will ‘Politicians’ and those with nothing better to do with their lives stop trumpeting absurd phraseology for a very small part of the populace, just to make them (apparently) feel included?!
I identify as a mongoose!
Sorry, mongooses have to sh17 round the back of the building.
Is it only me that thinks the cost is outrageous, a decent 4 bedroom house can be built for less
Cause tourists are money 🙂
I don’t think the residents would want strangers using their toilets or shower though !!
A simple squat and thrust hole in the ground would be more cost effective, we are essentially being taxed twice in council tax and pay per visit.
How long before the ‘ferral’ youth of Sandown smash them up or set light to them. There are a lot of dead heads who would do it. I really hope I’m wrong!
It will NEVER pay for itself. The ongoing cost of vandalised payment means, smashed internal fittings and natural wear and tear, will ensure that thousands will be needed to maintain this.
Foolish. This is not a busy street in London, but a town full of skanky, tax credit funded bored children.
The ONLY way to have public toilets is to go the opposite way, and have bare, concrete block rough walls, steel covered doors, and a stainless steel pan, and supply NO toilet paper or hand towels so keeping costs low.
A sign saying YOU have to supply tissue, which could be bought from an nearby shop or vending machine would limit costs for the council, vandals wouldn’t bother damaging it, IF you are desperate you dont care
Unless the Irritable Bowel Syndrome club use Sandown as it’s annual general meeting hub, then little chance of ever seeing a profit on this.
Mind, the many zero/low star eating houses in Lake, Sandown etc could, inadvertently, add to the councils revenue, but even with these it just seems a target for vandals as in a bad position out of sight of passing cars.
Still just add the bill to our Council tax and watch those clones of people who ‘don’t’ pay any destroy the place and likely closed by next Winter.
Broken before the Summer visitors set foot here.
The local benefit kept children will ensure that imo.
Another excuse to add to the precept or c.tax
Good grief! £200,000 – wonder who got the contract sorted for that? Kerching
It’s a disgusting amount of money isn’t it. Who the bloody hell do these Councillors employ do take on the work? Their mates?????
They don’t care how they throw the money around, it doesn’t come out of their pockets. Well some does, Council Tax payments pay for the outrageous bill.
Some cowboy outfit
What happens if you do not have contactless card
And you are caught short?
Pee round the back?
fenced of now
Use old fashioned coins!!
What a bloody eye sore,
did they get planning permission for that.
Glad I’m not near sandown and have to see it
They might be able to get some money back for two months a year but otherwise likely to be slim pickings.
And who on earth pays to use the new toilets at Lake Cliff? Not many tourists get up there.
The local working people will be the ones that pay for these toilets, the postman , the road sweepers, bin men, People who have no work toilet and use these during course of the day. 2 visits a day (40p) times 5 days. (£2) times 50 weeks say. Total £100 a year. Interesting can this be claimed back????
There is no need to “recoup these significant costs”. We already pay a massive council tax bill every year for poor public services. Presumably, we have paid for these toilets out of that bill. That is how it works, even if they cost far too much. Not like we charge children to go to school or tolls to walk on pavements. We pay plenty on council tax and should get more for our money. I want public toilets that look like the Ritz with CCTV and a round-the-clock security guard too.
Most locals won’t pay 20p in Sandown to have a p*ss.
Holidaymakers use only.
Another waste of money
Most locals are wearing nappies
Are the toilets at Yaverland fixed yet? Not been over there recently but on last visit they were shut. Really hope that’s all fixed now.
How long have you been waiting to use the toilet? You must be in real pain by now.