Sandown’s seafront toilets will reopen, as early as today (Tuesday), after community calls to the town council.
The public conveniences on Pier Street had been closed, due to safety reasons and are part of plans for new loos, a shop and a restaurant.
At a Sandown Town Council (STC) meeting last night (Monday), clerk Richard Priest said the town council had negotiated with the Isle of Wight council — which owns the building — to reopen them once safe to do so.
Work carried out
Over the last two weeks, work has been carried out to make them fit for purpose, along with a deep clean and electrical checks.
In 2021, STC also worked with the Isle of Wight council to open the toilets for the holiday season.
They are splitting the cost – at least £4,000 – to cover cleaning them over the summer.
‘Significant’, but unexpected investment for STC
At the meeting, Sandown Mayor, Cllr Paddy Lightfoot, described it as a ‘significant’, but unexpected investment for STC.
He said ‘hopefully this time next year’ the new development would be complete.
Site being sold
The Isle of Wight council’s toilet and site regeneration plans have stalled since they were approved in 2020 and work is yet to start.
The local authority is in the process of selling the site to a developer, who will then complete the project.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
