Exmouth: 600 people respond to public toilet consultation due to close in October

Just under one month remains for the public to give their views on public toilets in East Devon.

Around 600 people so far have shared their opinions in the consultation, which is due to close on Friday 1 October.

What people have said so far

One idea is to make some toilets like the facilities next to the old lifeboat station on Exmouth seafront, with a mix of toilet for men, women, unisex, baby changing facilities and disabled loos. Instead of having a communal area (which are prone to being vandalised), each cubicle could be accessed from the street and have its own basin.

Another idea would be to have a two-to-one ratio of toilets in favour of women to reduce queues.

Comments made include:

- "Look at rain harvesting solutions - solar power and even card donation. Offer local shops who allow use of toilets a financial incentive."

- "In Exmouth make it a condition for certain planning that public access to toilets is provided - The Ocean, Premier Inn and the Pavilion are prime examples."

- "We'd be interested in taking on this toilet, so we can run a café and keep a public toilet available for people inside the café."

- "During Covid I witnessed multiple people going to the toilet by beach huts at the sea front due to toilet closures. So I think the proximity of toilets in a holiday town should be reduced to avoid this unpleasant behaviour. Equally disabled visitors to the town and sea front should not have a significant trek to public facilities."

- "Ensuring at a minimum that there is a toilet block within an 8 minute walk is not practical. We can't expect someone who is able bodied who is desperate for the toilet to walk for 8 minutes to a toilet."

- "I would be happy to pay 30p if that would mean more toilets would be provided."

- "You are failing to consider adequately the needs of the disabled or to allow for the greater toileting need of elderly residents and visitors."

- "I don't think toilets needs to be modern and in line for awards. When I need a toilet I do not care what condition it is in - I'd rather have less focus on condition and more focus on relief!"

The proposed changes

The three categories for proposed changes to the public loos are as follows:

A) Improve them;

C) Offer their running to a town council/community group or remove them.

The 'pay-to-use' option has also been put forward.

Which categories are Exmouth's public toilets in?

The public toilets identified for the 'A' category (i.e. to be improved) are in:

- Foxholes Car Park (Running costs £22,543.95/year);

- Magnolia Centre/ London Inn (Running costs £28,881.03/year);

- Manor Gardens (Running costs £24,599.32/year);

- Queens Drive (Running costs £20,495.53/year);

- Phear Park (Running costs £12,893.16/year).

The 'B' category:

- Imperial Recreation Ground (the site 'could offer a very good café/bar'. Running costs £24,058.37/year);

- Orcombe Point (Running costs £6,371.78/year);

- The Maer (the site 'could be better used as a cafe/bar with community toilets, potential link with BBQ area'. Running costs £8,951.94/year).

The 'C' category:

- Bus/Train Station ('Very low usage. This site is at a gateway to the town, but directly benefits the station and could be operated by others. The building can't be used as anything other than a public toilet. Could be re-modelled as part of the Motorhome parking project pending councillor approval'. Running costs £24,541.37/year);

- Jarvis Close (Running costs £10,000.23/year).

How can I have my say?

The public consultation runs until 5pm on Friday, October 1 this year and takes the form of a questionnaire which can be accessed here.

Anyone who needs a copy of the consultation on paper or in any other format can contact East Devon District Council by emailing [email protected] or calling 01395 517569.

Full details of the consultation and the proposals for all the council-run toilet blocks in East Devon can be found here.

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