A new set of public toilets could be coming to Sandown seafront, but not in time for the upcoming summer holidays.
Plans have been submitted by Sandown Town Council (STC) for pay-to-use toilets at Eastern Gardens, next to the Southern Water pumping station.
A survey of the current ones has found that they are in generally poor condition, with engineering issues and in need of an upgrade.
As previously reported by Island Echo, facilities at the Yaverland Car park had faced intermittent closures earlier in the summer whilst those on the revetment in Lake had recently been closed after the pump that carried the sewage up the cliff had failed.
In the new plans, there would be 3 unisex cubicles, 1 accessible unit and 2 outside cold water showers, replacing the former Isle of Wight Council ones.
They would be on Isle of Wight Council land so the local authority would need to agree to lease the site to the town council. The matter will be considered at a meeting of its cabinet members next week.
Should the cabinet agree to the long lease of the land, it would be at a peppercorn rent and restricted to the use of public toilets only.
At the other end of Sandown Esplanade, similar permission was granted, in June 2020, for new toilets opposite Sandown Pier – which would mean the old ones would be demolished.
A new shop and restaurant were included in those plans but, although the aim was to have them open in 2021, work has yet to start. In May, the developers of the new loos were in the process of buying the site from the IW Council.
It is thought, if they are approved, work would likely start after the upcoming summer season.
View the planning application, 22/00923/FUL, on the IW Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until July 15.
Pay to use, what a wonderful idea. Pay more council tax and get more private companies running essential services. This council need a damn good looking into, the planning office is being or has been investigated, so come on what about the other departments as well, it’s high time.
pay to use is now unfortunatly the norm now. just came back from cornwall had to pay 20p in looe no pun intendid,and a crazy 50p in polperro. it does seem any chance to make money and the council are there.
Pay to use has been around since the 1970s. Admittedly, 2pence then. But hey, if a clean toilet is available at a charge, why not.
‘when gotta go, you gotta go’ !!!!
Better than one at all.
To think they used to be called the ‘Eastern PLEASURE Gardens’. Another sad Sandown story.
I wonder if Sandown locals will get a free toilet pass like in St Ives. Great idea imo.
And there’s the main words again (COULD BE)
So that will get scraped
How on earth can a crowded beach be serviced by three cubicles? Does skimpy beachwear have pockets to hold cash or cards? No doubt we shall soon be hearing about the levels of sewage in the sea. Just what planet do these planners live on?
Yet another way to fleece the public of their money. They are taking the piss.
Leave them alone, upgrade them if needed. But don’t do any major redevopment.
Nice peice of architecter.
Having travelled in 3rd world countries, I am astounded that they can still offer free toilets while in the ‘developed world’, we are charging for ours. Surely something wrong there?
Sandown is in a worse state than many 3rd world countries
Probably something to do with the fact that the people there have not got a bottle to p**s in, lol.
Why do you think things should be provided for ‘free’? We’re paying for facilities like these through local taxes and yet I’m pretty certain that the vast majority of the users of these toilets close to the beaches aren’t used by locals at all but by tourists. Also, having a small charge to get in, whilst also helping to cover the costs of running them, will also hopefully stop a lot of mindless idiots from wrecking them.
Didn’t toilets always used to be charged for? Isn’t that where the term ‘spending a penny’ came from, or did I make that up?
Sadly thesedays Sandown is one big toilet