Council to close public toilets in cost-cutting trial

Toilets in Battle, Rye, Bexhill, Pett Level and Sedlescombe will be closed over the winter months

A council in East Sussex is to close 12 public toilets as part of a cost-cutting trial.

Toilets in Battle, Rye, Bexhill, Pett Level and Sedlescombe will be closed over the winter months in an attempt to save Rother District Council funds.

The council faces a £3.8m shortfall in its budget for 2024/25.

Charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK said the closure of public toilets was “stressful and isolating” for those with inflammatory bowel disease.

Council leader Doug Oliver said the annual budget to operate the 27 public toilets in the district was more than £300,000.

“We know this decision will be unpopular, but we have to face up to the stark reality of the situation,” he said.

'First of many tough decisions'

Mr Oliver said reductions in government funding and rising costs and inflation had led to the £3.8m budget shortfall, while vandalism and ageing facilities meant repair costs had increased.

“We don’t want to close our toilets, but this is the first of many tough decisions we will have to make over the coming months in order to protect our statutory services such as waste collection and support for the homeless and vulnerable,” he added.

The closures will come into force on 13 November.

According to Crohn’s and Colitis UK, nine out of 10 people with Crohn’s disease and colitis plan their journeys based on access to toilets.

“This is increasingly challenging, stressful and isolating as the number of public toilets declines,” chief executive Sarah Sleet said.

“One of the main symptoms of these conditions is urgent and frequent diarrhoea.”

Ms Sleet added: “Access to toilets should be treated as a public health issue by governments across the UK.”

Rother District Council also said while “positive discussions” had taken place to see if the provision of public toilets could be devolved to town or parish councils, no firm decisions had been made.